tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27432031242658634752024-03-18T23:57:16.882-05:00My Journey...back to myselfT-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-69720571547307353542014-08-24T20:06:00.000-05:002014-08-24T20:06:44.753-05:00My CathedralWorship - the reverent love accorded a deity. The ceremonies, prayer or acts by which this love is expressed. To show honor and love. It is also the act of sharing common reverence and love with others. This definition does not include a time or place. Worship is merely an act that can be performed anywhere and at any time. Be it in a church, an empty football stadium, or a long lonely road before the sun rises. I grew up believing worship took place inside four walls at appointed times with definite parameters and rules for participation. As I have matured in age and thinking, studied and participated in many different forms of worship my beliefs have changed. My favorite cathedral, the place I feel closest to God and most worshipful is not inside four walls in concert with other people, but rather is in the woods and most often alone.<br />
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A long run is the perfect way to spend some time in prayerful, communion with the creator. The one who loves me unconditionally and is always present to hear my complaints, praises, secrets and confessions. As I run hymns of praise, prayers of thanksgiving and petitions both personal and for friends run through my mind. A long run strips you down to the bare bones and leaves you vulnerable and open to the hearing the voice of God.<br />
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So how exactly is a long run like worship? On my last run "The Doxology" was on a continuous loop in my brain...."Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above you Heavenly Hosts; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Totally fitting as my runs almost always begin with prayer. Prayers of thanksgiving for seeing me and my family safely through the night and blessing us with another day. For giving me a partner in life, love, fitness and health who totally "gets" me. For friends who share goals and dreams and time on the trail. For the beauty of the woods, songs of the birds waking up, the sunrise over the trees, the deer and other wildlife that cross my path as I run. I utter prayers of petition for safety as I run. For God to protect me and my running partners from the pitfalls of the trail; roots, holes, thorn bushes and creepy, crawling creatures.<br />
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Running is also a time to face some demons. Satan will always attack when we are at our most vulnerable and long distance running puts one in a vulnerable physical and mental state. All of my inadequacies and shortcomings are brought into view. It is very easy to start the comparison game....I'm not fast enough, strong enough, tough enough, etc., and even more juvenile thoughts that are too embarrassing to actually list here. Never mind that my mile pace is faster than this time last year or that my feet and knees are stronger and not putting me on the sidelines because of injury...I'm still not satisfied because I'm still slower than others. The list goes on and on and could completely ruin a beautiful run if allowed to go unchecked. I always say that long distance running is as much, if not more, mental as it is physical. Trust me you will be mentally tested on a long run through the woods. This is where prayers of petition are extra important. Prayers for help to take every thought hostage and change its course. God is always faithful to remind you of your strength, stamina, determination and desire to improve and finish strong. When asked He will always provide what is needed to accomplish all our goals.<br />
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At the end of the run, no matter where we finish, someone is there to offer encouragement, praise, water, nutrition, whatever we need. Running partners are the greatest friends and sometimes family a person can have. Like a congregation of worshippers is faithful to show up for Sunday services, running partners are always faithful to show up for a training run, travel to races together, provide emotional, mental and physical support, whatever is needed.<br />
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Hopefully I will see you on the run...maybe even in my favorite cathedral on a Sunday...maybe even a Saturday...T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-89651471216272425822014-07-28T20:56:00.000-05:002014-07-28T20:56:28.149-05:00Three's<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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What's the old saying news comes in three's? Be it good or bad the news always comes in three's. Well I have recently received two <strike>devastating</strike>, sad pieces of news. They both came a few weeks ago. </div>
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First the results of my mothers PET scan came back and they were not good. Her cancer has spread. Not alarmingly but it has spread. As hard as the last year and a half has been I was not completely prepared for bad news. However I was not unprepared either. The thing that keeps me from falling completely apart is my mother. She has such quiet strength and calmness in her soul that everyone around her is comforted by it. At a time when we should be comforting her, she comforts us. She received the news, weighed her options and has moved on to the next level of treatment. No tears, no why Me's, no negative thoughts of any kind. Just a positive, hopeful outlook that keeps me strong and moving forward. </div>
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The next bit of news is less devastating but sad nonetheless. One of my best friends, one from my previous blog, has moved back to her home in Oregon. Actually as I post this she and her family are on their cross country journey back to the Pacific Northwest with a few stops along the way to visit friends. This is the friend who I have know the least amount of time but who has changed me for the better. I'm not yet sure how I am going to navigate the days without her presence. Coffee at our favorite place is changed, running is changed, Taco Wednesday is changed...everything is forever changed. I miss my ally, my partner in crime, the one who is always on my side.</div>
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Fortunately we live in the digital age, the age of texting, Facebook and Instagram, thus staying in touch will be easy. We have already planned a trip in September and hopefully we will be able to meet up at a race in January. However the day to day life without her will take some getting used to. I am accustomed to texting and suggesting lunch or a run. Those days are forever gone but not forgotten. I already miss her... </div>
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For now there is no third piece of news. Thank God for small rays of light...</div>
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<br />T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-31819955403667339072014-07-27T17:51:00.000-05:002014-07-27T17:51:45.153-05:00A Tale of Two FriendsWhat is a friend? The dictionary definition is a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. This didn't do it for me so I dug a little deeper and I found this. "A person well known to another and regarded with liking, affection and loyalty". Almost but not quite...then I found this. "Friendship is a personal relationship shared between each friend for the welfare of the other, in other words, it is the relationship of trust, faith and concern for each others feelings. It is a relationship of mutual caring and intimacy among one another. A friend is one who knows you as a person and regards you for what you are and not what he or she is looking for in a good friend. Best friend is one who accepts the good as well bad qualities of his friend and also takes an initiative in correcting and mending them. Friendship is a distinctive kind of concern for your friend, it is a relationship of immense faith and love for each other. <br />
Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/126704">http://EzineArticles.com/126704</a><br />
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This definition is as close as any I have read to describing how I feel about my friends.<br />
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What is the saying about friendship? A person is fortunate to have one person she can consider a true friend. Well if this is the case then I am doubly blessed because I have two women in my life I consider true friends and they came to me under quite different circumstances. <br />
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The first friendship was developed over years, nurtured, fed, watered and gently tended. I met this woman when I was a teenager and she was a child. I babysat her and her siblings. Our parents were friends. We attended church together. She was cute but a bit annoying and sometimes a pest. She had a slight crush on my then boyfriend who later became my husband. She was the kid sister I had always wanted. After I married and she was a teenager I became her confidant. Someone she could talk to and look to for advice without judgment. Later when my life was overwhelmed with work, motherhood and caring for my terminally ill mother-in-law she became my confidant and lifeline. She helped me take care of my home, babysat my daughters, and most days was just here to listen and provide comfort to me. Later she moved in with our family while she was in college. Then again when she was going through her divorce. I'm not sure when it happened but somewhere along our journey she became closer than a sister to me. Such an important part of my life that without her my world would be incomplete. We have seen each other through heartache, joy, marriage, divorce, childbirth and the loss of our fathers (both in the same year). We know each others histories and secrets. We don't always see eye to eye but hold a deep and profound love and respect for each other that through it all we remain closer than sisters because we chose each other.<br />
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The second friendship formed in an instant. So fast and furious it caught me off guard. You see I don't easily open myself up to close relationships. I hold people at arms length, especially women. So when I met this woman on New Years Eve 2012 I couldn't believe how much I immediately liked her. We planned a shopping trip together, which is totally out of character for me, and suddenly the "Sistas" were born. We share similar beliefs and histories. The more we talked and grew to know each other we realized how similar we are. We are both a study of contradictions. We are strong yet vulnerable; bold yet timid; outgoing yet shy; open yet private; introverts with extrovert tendencies; feminine yet not girly; we are one but two. So much about the way we approach life is similar that sometimes I feel like we are the same person. But as I learn more about her history and see how she handles challenges I see how different we are. Both thoughts are encouraging to me. I love having someone who I understand and who understands me so completely yet who can still challenge me. She entered my life like a flash and changed my world completely. We share a deep and profound love and respect for each other and my world would be incomplete without her in it.<br />
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I love these women for similar and different reasons but I love them none-the-less. They are my running partners, drinking partners, shopping partners, road trippers, sanity savers, and secret keepers. They are my sisters and my life would not be the same without them. </div>
T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-17262864356154932362013-09-17T21:39:00.000-05:002013-09-17T21:39:18.708-05:00Today. Is. The. Day!And so it begins. Lurong Living Paleo Challenge Day 1 has arrived. The weigh-in, measurement taking and before pictures will happen at the box this evening. The first benchmark WOD is tomorrow...kind of looking forward to it and kind of nervous. <br />
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Well measurements were about what I expected them to be. My weight, however, has increased by four pounds since a week ago. That's what the "bulking up" mentality will get you! Oh well greater chance for success. <br />
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I completed the first Challenge WOD at Level 2. It consisted of 100 Burpees and 100 Kettle Bell Swings with a 25# kettlebell with a 12 minute time cap. I completed 152 of the 200 reps so my score was 12:48...not bad but plenty of room for improvement. Day two of clean eating is also in the books and I think this is going to be the easy part of the challenge. Since we are pretty fresh off the Whole 30 challenge we have are already eating pretty clean. Just have to tighten up the diet over the next eight weeks. It is fun to be doing this as a family. I love the fact that my grown daughters are on track to being fit and healthy and are choosing to live this way. Makes me feel like maybe I did something right.<br />
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I also spent about 30 minutes this morning with my Bible and some quiet time and prayer before I got out of bed. This definitely centered me a little but I have a long way to go. My attitude and language need major adjustments. This is going to be the most difficult part of the challenge for me...and its not even an official part of it. This is my own personal challenge.<br />
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On a different note, I will be alone this weekend! Everyone but me is going out of town. Mom left today, Ronnie leaves on Thursday and Kait leaves Friday. The only task I will have is taking my best friends daughter to her soccer game Saturday morning because she will be out of town as well! I cannot express how much I am looking forward to two days to do whatever I want. To chill, run, WOD...whatever. May be hard to eat clean the entire time. May have to add a glass of wine or two over the three evenings and two days. <br />
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Here's to a peaceful, productive weekend. Hope to see you on the run...T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-77711692357114728762013-09-11T15:43:00.000-05:002013-09-11T15:43:48.736-05:00Small Stuff...So the past few months have been quite challenging emotionally. When I look back and try to analyze why, it all boils down to ME sweating the SMALL stuff. Those unimportant, uncontrollable, mundane happenings of everyday life that tend to get in the way of truly living. So as I struggle to find enough money, time, energy, patience, etc.to achieve the objectives set before me, I also struggle to stay centered and calm. Enter the LuRong Paleo Challenge. I am hoping as I concentrate on taking care of my physical body the needs of my emotional and spiritual self will be met as well. My goal is to take some time each day to be calm, to center myself with some kind of study and prayer/meditation to center myself and recharge. This is the one area of my life that is lacking. I work, work out, and try to eat well. I am even managing to maintain close friendships, intimacy with my husband and a good social network. <br />
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My spiritual life is lacking and I can directly attribute it to the fact that I gave up church about four years ago. Now before you get all judgmental on me, I said I gave up church. I did NOT give up God. Yes you can have God without having church, one just has to work harder. Be truly dedicated to spending time daily in prayer and study. Dedicated to meeting with the Lord daily and listening to and communing with Him. So I am declaring here in print that I am making this commitment. The commitment to better physical, emotional, and spiritual health beginning with the LuRong Paleo challenge. I am told that it takes 21 days to develop a new habit (and break old ones), so I am hoping by the end of the challenge these things will no longer be a challenge but just a way of life. I will be honest, this declaration scares me. I am now committed and must follow through. I will probably be referring to this post many times over the next eight weeks to remind myself of the commitment I have made and to stick to it.<br />
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Here's hoping I see you on the run...T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-44282841701693674632013-09-11T15:17:00.000-05:002013-09-11T15:17:37.060-05:00Where were you...I woke up this morning with a deep sense of gratitude for all of the men and women who sacrifice their lives everyday for my personal freedom. These feelings were punctuated by all the images on Facebook, Instagram and the internet urging us as Americans to never forget the tragedy of 9/11/2001. To remember the ones who lost their lives and those left behind to pick up the pieces and carry on without the ones they love. Not to mention those of us who lost nothing but a sense of security and well being...not that that's nothing. So as we remember, tell me, where were you when our beloved country was attacked for the first time since Pearl Harbor?<br />
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I vividly remember being in my office working and chatting with my co-worker when my boss came in and was completely freaked out. He told us what he had heard on the radio about a plane flying into the World Trade Center and we all figured it was a hoax. We soon learned from the ladies in the office suite next to ours that this was anything but a hoax. They had a small TV and the three of us took turns running next door to watch the unfolding events. Eventually five adults were gathered around a small 11" TV watching in horror as the first tower fell and the second one soon followed. Were left speechless, sick, scared, bewildered, you name the negative emotion, we felt it. As horrified as I was at these events, I could not have been prouder of my country and our leaders that and in the weeks and years that followed. America rallied, men enlisted to defend our freedoms and yes to seek revenge on those who perpetrated this crime against all of us. People remembered God, family, and community. Our lives were forever changed. Some for the better, some for the worse but changed nonetheless. T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-43234840853103963202013-09-10T11:16:00.000-05:002013-09-10T11:16:47.289-05:00I'M BAAACCCKKK!!!<div style="text-align: left;">
Hello to all who care. It has been a while since I was here...in fact almost two years have passed since I graced these pages with my thoughts. Guess I haven't had many thoughts. ; ) As I was preparing to post this I came across the 2012 year end wrap up I wrote so I went ahead and posted it. Seems there were a great many thoughts to share.<br />
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So why am I here today? Well my husband and I are about to embark on a fitness and nutrition adventure and I aim to document it here. The LuRong Paleo Challenge begins Monday 9/16/2013. This challenge combines a clean (i.e Paleo) diet with CrossFit workouts. We will track our progress over the next eight weeks, posting our nutrition and workouts, trying out new recipes and giving our testimonials on the way to becoming our best selves. The challenge begins with a weigh-in, measurement taking and bench-mark workouts prescribed by the LuRong folks and monitored by our CrossFit coaches. I am both looking forward to and dreading the beginning of this challenge. I know what a difference clean eating makes in my overall health and well being and in the way I feel and look. I also know that this lifestyle is definitely a challenge but it is made easier since I am sharing it with my best friend, lover and life partner. I also have a fun surprise planned for the end and this will help to keep me motivated. We all know I need more than health and well being to keep me motivated. </div>
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Along with this challenge we are also training for a series of races and I am battling a knee injury, all of which add to the challenge. I was able to run this past weekend with little pain so I know I am getting stronger. I'm just not confident enough to actually commit to a race yet but I will...<br />
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Until then I hope to see you on the run!</div>
T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-7713559113948396272013-09-10T11:07:00.000-05:002013-09-10T11:07:41.055-05:002012 In The Rearview MirrorAs I sit down to re-cap 2012 I realize I haven't been here since August of 2011. However, let me tell you, it's not like I haven't tried. Several times I opened up my computer to write a post and the words wouldn't come or they came too fast and I couldn't make sense of them so I just left without writing anything. So here I am to recap some of what happened in 2012 and maybe I will be better next year of chronicaling my life here. <br />
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Looking back over 2012 the mystery is why didn't anything get posted? What an eventful year 2012 was, full of endings, and loss, and new beginnings. Maybe that was the problem. So much went on that time was never taken to stop, reflect and record. Here's hoping 2013 brings me perspective and willingness to stop and reflect and share.<br />
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So here it is, 2012 summed up in 12 short months and a lifetime of memories...<br />
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January -<br />
January is one of my favorite months because it is the month I celebrate the beginning of my real life...I married the love of my life on 1/24/1986. What an eventful 26 - almost 27 - years we have had together. January is also the month we head down south to partake in the Bandera 25K & 50K trail race. This is one of our favorite weekends. Usually a group of us head south, rent a house and eat, drink, race and recover together...it is a blast! This year was also an Olympic year and we had the priviledge of witnessing the Olympic Marathon trials race in Houston. All I can say is WOW! The way these athletes run is pure grace and beauty in motion. Makes me look like even more of a turtle than I am. We also said good bye to my husbands cousin...like I said it was a year of many emotions...<br />
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February - <br />
After the activity and loss of January, February was relatively calm. The arrival of February is always bittersweet as it the anniversary of my Daddy's passing. I miss him every day...he was my hero and my first love. This month is also punctuated with Dance. Dance has been a huge part of the Cook household for 15 years. My youngest daughter is a dancer and a beautiful one at that. She competed in a dance competition in College Station with a solo lyrical piece dedicated to her late grandmother that was exquisite and earned her top five honors. I am extremely proud of this little one.<br />
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March -<br />
March in Texas means one thing SPRING BREAK!!!! Kait and I spent ours at Disney World with her high school drill team. We had a blast. Our trip began at 3am on March 13th and ended at 11pm March 16th. We squeezed every bit of life out of those four days that was humanly possible...then slept the entire day after we got home. Let me just say it was worth every lost minute of sleep to spend this last trip with my little girl before she headed off to college in the fall. And to see her revert to a five year old when she met her favorite princess of all time!<br />
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April -<br />
More Kait time! April in Texas means PROM! We spent the month shopping for the perfect dress, having it remade so it would fit its tiny owner, finding the perfect shoes, accessories and hair. Finally the big day arrived...Kait and her fella Wilson were definitely the most beautiful and original couple at the party. Very James Bond meets Mad Men! Love these kiddos... We also lost a dear friend in April...I think of him often. The world will never be the same without this fun-loving man.<br />
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May -<br />
May marked another end...GRADUATION :( My baby girl graduated from high school and I have never been so filled with dread and sadness without death being involved. As I faced the prospect of an empty nest, I wondered when I got to be the old lady in the room. Aren't I still 18?! How silly..the sadness lasted a minute and was replaced with pride, excitement and joy for her future. I couldn't be prouder of my graduate!<br />
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June -<br />
June marked the beginning of our running season. Captain and I participated in Captain Karls nighttime race series. Captain ran the 30K and I ran the 10K. What a fun event. Trail racers are a breed unto themselves...a great breed. None of our other running friends braved the evening races and I was a little annoyed at first. But to be honest I absolutely loved the monthly excursions with my favorite man. I love a good road trip and when it involves my Captain and running...what could be better!<br />
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July -<br />
July is the birth month of my favorite red head and we celebrated her 26th birthday in style with sushi and jewelry! Two of our favorite things. I love my Meg. This was also race #2 in the Captain Karls series. I also discovered the appeal of beads and New Orleans. A much needed long weekend getaway with special friends and of course my Captain was in order. Let me just say...what happens in the Big Easy, stays in the Big Easy! Can't wait to go back!<br />
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August -<br />
This is a month of birthdays. Captain's is early in the month then Kait's and mine are back to back. To be honest by the time my birthday gets here I am sooooo over celebrating I could care less. Four birthdays in six weeks is more than enough for me. My family however loves to honor me...so I must indulge them! This also marked my baby heading off to college! Can I just say again WHEN did I become old enough for this! Fortunately for me she chose a college close to home and didn't move out just yet. I secretly loved this...OK not so secretly. This was race #3 in Captain Karl's series. August also marked the beginning of training for the San Antonio Marathon...my fourth. I was excited.<br />
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September -<br />
Race #4 in the series...I finished as the second place female overall for the series...I was very prould! This also marked then end of my marathon training due to Plantar Faciitis. Horrible foot and heel pain sidelined me. Let me just say I was not a happy camper.<br />
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October -<br />
This month is breast cancer awareness month - how ironic that this is also the month that my Mom's breast cancer reared its ugly head. Round three with breast cancer began for her. This month was puncuated with surgery, fear, anger and healing. This was why I was sidelined from running...she needed me.<br />
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November -<br />
Marathon time is here. I am so proud of my runners. See since I couldn't run myself, I took on the roll of team Mom. I fed them, encouraged them, fussed at them and prodded them across the finish line. One to her first marathon finish and two to PR's. This is also the month of thankfulness and I had a multitude of things to be grateful for, the least of which was being able to be at the finish line of this marathon. My Mom was on the road to renewed strength. She is an amazingly strong woman. No one has more faith, determination and love of life than her and I want to be just like her when I grow up.<br />
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December -<br />
Years end and a month to celebrate our Saviour arriving. I love the spirit of the Christmas Season. True we are overly busy...there never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all of our tasks, ect. However, there also seems to be a calmness, a peacefulness amidst all the hustle and bustle that I relish. With all of the loss and change 2012 brought, I am looking forward to the new year with expectation. My mother is moving in, my baby will be moving out...change is happening in the Cook house and a new season of life has begun. Here's to new adventures...see you on the run!T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-91484565397736304722011-08-18T10:28:00.000-05:002012-11-19T09:32:02.872-06:00Why Run?The questions are inevitable. “Hey was that you I saw running the other day? What were you running from?” “Why would anyone want to run?” “What is the point of running?” etc., etc., etc. My flippant answer has always been, “My big, fat, rear end!” which is true but not totally accurate. When I dig a little deeper there many reasons I run.<br />
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• Fitness. Running is the one form of exercise that shows me fairly immediate results in weight loss, smaller clothing sizes and overall cardiovascular fitness. All of these fluctuate but running gives you what you put into it. I have remained approximately the same size for the past 20 years. I owe it to running.<br />
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• Health. When I run consistently I eat better, sleep more, and lead an overall healthier lifestyle. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels are lower and I feel stronger.<br />
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• Ease and economy. All you need to run is a good pair of running shoes, a good running bra (for the ladies), and some shorts. Everything else is fun but totally not necessary. Lace up your shoes and head out the door. You decide which way and how long. You don’t need a gym or a team, you can just go and you can do it anywhere, anytime.<br />
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• Friendship. You don’t <u>need</u> a team but like everything in life, running is more fun when you share it with friends. Most of my best friends are also my running partners. The people you know you can count on to show up at 7am on a Saturday or Sunday for a long run or you can drop in on at 10pm for a shoulder to cry on or a wall to rail against. When you share sweat and a water bottle a bond is formed beyond the road.<br />
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• Inspiration. The most rewarding thing running has given me is I have been able to inspire others to run and improve their lives. This was an unexpected benefit. Since I am naturally slow, I enjoy running races but never win races, etc. I never expected to inspire anyone else with my efforts. Turns out just the fact that you run often inspires others to do the same. I guess they look at the ordinariness of me and figure if she can do it so can I. This excites me beyond belief!<br />
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• Marriage. Running has brought me closer to my husband. When I began running he was totally not interested. No problem! I enjoyed and still enjoy running solo. But over the years he has joined me and now surpasses me on the road. I love having this in common. We encourage each others efforts and are just competitive enough to motivate each other. It is much more difficult to skip a training run when he gets out of the bed…I can’t let him be more dedicated than me. He may be faster but he will not be more consistent!<br />
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This is by far not an exhaustive list of why I run but it does hit the highlights. So how about you…why do you run? <br />
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See you on the run…<br />
<br />T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-86011991129379712862010-05-20T20:55:00.000-05:002010-05-20T20:55:28.565-05:00OMG!!! After ten days of whining and chomping at the bit to get back out on the road, I now find myself having difficulty getting motivated to run! Can you believe it? Not only that but I am having trouble getting back my running lungs. Even short runs of 3-4 miles leave me extremely winded and ready to quit. I think stress and hormone must be playing a part in my lethargy. Now what to do to correct the problem. My first thought is to suck it up and get out the door and run!T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-14143638584427989022010-02-01T10:56:00.000-06:002010-02-01T10:56:55.436-06:00CELEBRATING DIVASOk my Diva side came out this weekend. You see my daughter had her first formal dance of her high school career Saturday night. The event is "Pride Prom". She is a member of her schools dance team (Panther Pride) and every winter the booster club puts on a sem-formal dance/casino party. This is great fun and we were excited! I spent Friday evening helping set up and decorating the venue.<br />
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Of course we bought the dress and shoes several months ago so Saturday was reserved for "gilding the lily" because she is already incredibly naturally beautiful (even though she doesn’t think so)! We went for mani-pedi’s in the morning then her best friend came over to do her hair. This consisted of curling her already naturally curly hair! LOL! Then to the beauty supply store for hair accessories then makeup and finally she got dressed. This process began at 11:30 and by 4:45 she was absolutely gorgeous! Of course I am slightly biased but everyone else thought so too. Wilson arrived just a little early and had to wait about five minutes but I think he thought it was worth it…here is the cute couple and a few of their friends. <br />
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<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Pride Prom 2010</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgsZUVeN7oA6a_EKr428I4HHCyYJUOW5FfAemCpCT__-hV6t21kRiDnrcnB2SavgzfjU_jzV1mXYHZPh7AAuX_JSfV4GTnka4VqmuxOKUxN30YwVRCeGbLgUQ9SkvO12dWf3kNSENPtk/s1600-h/PrideProm2010K&W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgsZUVeN7oA6a_EKr428I4HHCyYJUOW5FfAemCpCT__-hV6t21kRiDnrcnB2SavgzfjU_jzV1mXYHZPh7AAuX_JSfV4GTnka4VqmuxOKUxN30YwVRCeGbLgUQ9SkvO12dWf3kNSENPtk/s320/PrideProm2010K&W.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Kait & Wilson</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51AZmUXvKa41XBmis4UpwK1fR1ZIm7flzfWH7GLDw7QkAX3iL1m-nti5N_w9nWXNw4mYfcYowhNLtU2uPJkX0CB496IpaUnn-4pDdWA8gEPGpq958GcgIFOQi-T6X46gwziGf6mqatEE/s1600-h/PrideProm2010-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51AZmUXvKa41XBmis4UpwK1fR1ZIm7flzfWH7GLDw7QkAX3iL1m-nti5N_w9nWXNw4mYfcYowhNLtU2uPJkX0CB496IpaUnn-4pDdWA8gEPGpq958GcgIFOQi-T6X46gwziGf6mqatEE/s320/PrideProm2010-3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>...a few of their friends...</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>This looks like an ad in Seventeen Prom issue! We are blessed to have a burgeoning photographer among the parents…she takes amazing photos. This is good for me since I am photographically challenged and one out of every three pictures I take is blurred or someone is cropped somewhere!<br />
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In my opinion they were the cutest couple of the group! Definitely the couple with the most personality! What a fun night. The kids posed for photos, ate dinner, and gambled the night away at the Casino night party. Needless to say Mom had a great time. My baby is growing up…ain’t life grand! Until later…hope to see you on the run…T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-26385098395807239472010-01-29T15:31:00.001-06:002010-01-29T15:32:19.234-06:00CONFLICT...HOW DO YOU DEAL?I hate conflict!!! I avoid it at all costs, sometimes at great cost to myself. So when it jumps up and slaps me in the face half an hour befor I am to get off work it puts a damper on the remainder of my day. However, Thusday is Boot Camp day! Woo Hoo!!! The perfect antidote to conflict...pain and sweat! Just what the doctor (therapist) ordered. You see when my shoulders wind up around my ears and a huge knot forms along my right shoulder blade...I NEED to workout! When emotions are on the surface and painful memories at the forefront...I NEED to workout! When the world seems to be closing in around me and the week is dragging...I NEED to workout! So God bless Fifi (Fat Insane Fitness Instructor) as we lovingly refer to her, and Lufkin Boot Camp Company and the LAPs (Lufkin Area Pacesetters) running club! Meeting with these two groups weekly helps keep me relatively sane. I say relatively because sanity is relative and some of my relatives would question my sanity. So now it is Friday...the beginning of my weekend with a formal dance on Saturday for my teenage daughter and a long run on Sunday with my LAPs peeps the future is looking up! Here's to a stress free weekend...I'll see you on the run.T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-1386933857599865282010-01-28T11:12:00.002-06:002010-01-28T11:14:33.333-06:00On the Road Again...Well I'm back. Since hurting my knee at Warrior practice on the 16th, I decided to take about a week off from training. Or rather my knee decided I would take a break. When one is accustomed to working out every day taking an extended period of time off is very difficult. You see making a conscience decision to skip out on training is different than being forced to. Consequently I get a little cranky and on edge...sorry Ronnie!<br />
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You see working out is my stress reliever and my source of socialization. Most of my friendships revolve our different running and boot camp groups. So not working out kept me out of the loop so to speak. It is also my way of blowing off steam after a stresful day at work. I tried working out at home but it is not the same. You see I am essentially lazy so if someone isn't pushing me to run faster, use a heavier weight or hold that plank just a little longer I will just stop. Consequently I built up a knot between my shoulder blades that is making it difficult to turn my head to the right. Working has relieved the majority of that pain...now to con Ronnie into massaging the rest away!<br />
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Anyhoo...the return to working out has been slow. I did a 15 mile bike ride Sunday while the rest of the group did the long run...that was fun and just what I needed. Then Monday I returned to Boot Camp, Tuesday I did the 5:30 AM three mile run followed by Boot Camp that evening and to say I was tired is an understatement! You see after just one week my body became accustmed to sleeping in to 6:30 and by lunch time was ready for a nap! I slept in on Wednesday but ran the trail with the group that evening. I have lost so much cardio fitness it is frustrating! I know it will come back but I want it now (there is the 3 yr. old I told you about)! I slept in again this morning...I'm just finding my body is requiring more rest or I'm just lazy you decide! Oh well...maybe I'll see you on the run...T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-30992736597716440242010-01-19T14:25:00.014-06:002010-01-28T14:13:40.299-06:00HERE COME THE WARRIORS!!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba0CXLltNDD0DF7qPeFaRE4qUBda-d5h0prmRw83aREFL8vy8rYTxbpu0Ug2U40vYuQqbALSfWFKepoOKRxuWv7rRiRX8XfrCCT5qcsItMUHTIXT4EZ9QNUjZRZ2hEpYGX7qFSN6dodM/s1600-h/19650_257871473769_248248123769_3226240_5467677_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjba0CXLltNDD0DF7qPeFaRE4qUBda-d5h0prmRw83aREFL8vy8rYTxbpu0Ug2U40vYuQqbALSfWFKepoOKRxuWv7rRiRX8XfrCCT5qcsItMUHTIXT4EZ9QNUjZRZ2hEpYGX7qFSN6dodM/s320/19650_257871473769_248248123769_3226240_5467677_n.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Fearless Warriors after conquering "The Wall"....<br />
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</div>We had our first practice for the Warrior Dash race coming up May 1st. Warrior Dash is a 3.5 mile cross country race with a series of 12 obstacles ranging from crossing a shallow creek to fire jumping. I am so excited to be a part of the inaugural running of this event in Texas! We have a group of 15-20 members of our local running club participating so it promises to be a good time! Consequently a group of us gathered last Saturday at a local running trail to “practice” for this race. The trail is about 4-5 miles with an ROTC obstacle course set up at the half way point…perfect for this particular training. <br />
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The group of us leaves the trail head and run along the LaNanna Creek on a drizzly 44 degree morning. We splash through puddles, slog through mud, cross the creek on a large pipe, scramble up the muddy bank and arrive at the obstacle course. The majority of us did not know what we were in for by taking on these obstacles but we anticipated fun not torture! The first obstacle was very simple, traverse a series of balance beams, no problem, bring on the next challenge. This consisted of cross beams mounted about chest height (4’ off the ground) that we had to scale. For the men 5’ 10” and taller this task was no problem, those of us who are vertically challenged had to work a little harder but we all managed to complete it without incident. The third obstacle was slightly more challenging but still achievable. We had to make our way across a bed of graduated height pegs without touching the ground. The pegs ranged from 6 inches high to two feet high and were placed approximately three feet apart, just wider than a normal step length for the women of our group who are 5’3” and smaller. Again those with longer legs had an easier time with this challenge, however, all eventually completed this task and we moved on to the first wall. This wall is about six feet tall and four inches wide at the top. This was definitely going to be a challenge, especially for me (5’3” tall and 130lbs.). Once again the taller men had no problem with this obstacle. The shorter men were more challenged but still managed to scale the wall without help. We women however were allowed to be boosted by the guys which was definitely needed since when I tried to do it by myself (because I have a perpetual three year old inside of me saying I can do it by myself!) I could reach the top of the wall but couldn’t grip it because it was too wide and slick from the drizzle. So Ronnie gave me a boost and I managed to get over it without incident, as did the other women. We then ran the tires ala football practice and moved on to wall #2. <br />
Wall #2 is where I met my match but didn’t know it. You see I was feeling pretty good, I had mastered all but the first wall with no help and minimal difficulty and even the wall was doable with a small boost. Wall #2 was shorter and had a foothold in the middle of it so I figured…no problem. The first guy scaled it then I stepped up and took my turn…no back of the line for this lady! I jump and grab the top of the wall, wiggle my way up enough to get my left knee in the foothold and used those strong legs to hoist myself up, then it was just a matter of getting my legs up and over the top of the wall then I could hang off the other side and drop to the ground, task accomplished! Right…not! I made it to the top of the wall then on my way down I landed on my weak knee and it buckled and hyper extended and down I went. You see this is the knee I injured skiing about five years ago, then re-injured playing soccer the next summer and injured again last summer jumping at boot camp exercise class. So now I am out of commission for at least at week.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the big bad wall...<br />
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</div>Do you know how hard it is to be sidelined by an injury rather than laziness? Well I do and it is no fun. So friends and family alike are making sure I am a good girl and stay off this knee so it can heal. I am trying to be a “good girl” and follow orders because I don’t want to miss the upcoming events I have planned which include two half marathons and the Warrior Dash! The most important being Warrior Dash…where else can I get a Warrior Hat (horns and all) just for running and playing in the mud! So for now I will ride my bike and work on upper body and core strength while my knee heals. Until then…I’ll see you on the run.T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-35121694016796456192009-12-31T11:13:00.001-06:002010-01-22T10:49:37.753-06:002010...What Will it Hold?As I sit at my desk and ponder what the new year and new decade will hold for myself and my family, I can't help but marvel at how fast the past ten years flew by! When we entered the new millenia it was with a sense of trepidation...remember Y2K? What a joke that turned out to be...were you among the many who horded food and water, moved to the country anticipating the need for a simpler life, did you empty your bank accounts...all of which proved to be totally pointless. My family entered the year 2000 with a freshman in high school and a first grader...ten short years later we have a grown woman and a young woman in her Sophomore year of high school! We are 2.5 years away from an empty nest and truly looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time. Life and time march on at an increasingly rapid pace these days. As I think about the past decade I think what have I accomplished, who have I influenced? <br />
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In my running life I ran three marathons and numerous 5K and 10K races in the first decade of the new century. All fetes I never in my wildest dreams thought I would accomplish prior to 2000! If you had asked my parents and brother if T. would complete those goals they would have laughed out loud at the thought. You see I was not the least bit athletic growing up...Dad would tease me about my lack of skill throwing a baseball...I did participate in sports in high school as the trainer and equipment manager. There was never much encouragement for girls in our family to be physically fit or athletic. Girls were to be smart and pretty. Well I was smart and OK looking which is when I developed my Diva tendencies (hair, makeup, clothes, etc.). However I always ran. Because running made me feel free and it kept me fit. Nevertheless, I never had the confidence to enter a race...until my husband encouraged me to and entered a 5K with me. It was fun but I can't say I was hooked on competing. But something changed with the turning of the century. I took on coaching my youngest daughters Soccer team, something I was totally clueless about, so we learned together. If I do say so myself I became pretty good at motivating 6-8 year olds to be active and work hard to achieve a goal. I surprised myself and my family. Coaching taught me to be organized and efficient, words few would have used to describe me! Coaching also awakened a quiet confidence I had never felt before. Confidence to step out of my comfort zone, to deal with irrate parents, lazy children and a hectic schedule. So in January of 2004 when I announced my plan to train for and complete my first marathon my husband thought I was slightly crazy but he never blinked! He jumped on the band wagon and made it possible for me accomplish this huge goal. <br />
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I think I was feeling old and fat. My oldest daughter was about to graduate from high school and embark on her college career and I was turning 40 all in the same year. I called the marathon my mid-life crisis...better than finding a younger man! So my mid-life crisis became my banner for fitness and inspiration of others. Since I didn't have any running friends I trained alone. Waking up every day for 11 months at 5am to train and running long on the weekends. Since I didn't know anyone else who had done this and I had never done it I found a book by Hal Higdon and did what he said to do. I was too dumb to realize what a gargantuan task I had set myself so I "just did it"! November rolled around and the family and I traveled to San Antonio and I completed my first marathon. It was such an emotional accomplishment that to this day I can't truly express it. But just thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes...tears of pride, accomplishment, relief and joy.<br />
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Little did I know that this would open the flood gate of running for the next six years. After that first marathon I just ran for fun and fitness. Never very steady or focused. Then in the winter of 2006 a friend caught the bug and talked me into training with her to run another marathon. My husband joined us and the rest is history. The three of us completed the San Antonion Marathon in 2007 and 2008. I took off from marathon training in 2009 but my husband carried on and involved yet another friend and she completed her first every marathon this year. After helping these others train I realized what a fete I accomplished in 2004 by training alone. Training is much more fun and totally easier if you have friends and partners to motivate you and keep you on track. We now have a running club that was started in January of 2009. There are 45 members in our area that get together to run. Not all 45 of us run at the same time but on any given day several of us run together. We also plan and attend races in the area. Several of us are training for two half marathons and a 3.5 mile obstacle laden race for the first half of 2010. No one will commit to another marathon yet...maybe someday I will run another one...who knows maybe when I turn 50!<br />
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Until then...I'll see you on the run!T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743203124265863475.post-62131004863239557542009-12-06T15:55:00.000-06:002009-12-06T15:55:03.655-06:00Hello to all who enter here. Let me introduce myself. I am Tina Cook a wife, mother and runner. As my profile say I run for fun, fellowship and fitness. I call myself a Diva because although I love to run, bike, hike, lift weights, get dirty, etc. I am 100% GIRL. I love clothes, makeup and stilletos and getting dressed up...I love being a girl. Fortunately to quote Hannah Montana "I get the best of both worlds!"<br />
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I don't really fancy myself a writer, I just thought I would share some of what is happening in my world. I love to run and workout. I run four to five times a week as well as participate in a "boot camp" style workout class. I run with a group of people of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. We run on the roads and trails in our area. Several of us also like to bike. The Captain and I prefer to trail riding but will venture out onto the road occassionally. Several of our group are currently training for the Warrior Dash Texas which is a 3.5 mile trail run with obstacles. This race is a chance to really challenge our endurance as well as strength. Not to mention we get to play in the mud! I am sooo looking forward to this event. We are trying to find a place to set up a training course...just for fun.<br />
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Anyway that is just a little about me and my life. I will visit this site from to time and share my thoughts and plans with all who dare to enter. Nothing overly exciting just my life.<br />
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See you on the run...T-Nuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01982219006998390387noreply@blogger.com0