Running

Saturday was our "big' race.  I was looking for a race to run, and a friend told me about this one.  Our entire family could participate for $60, which is a steal for a family of five.  It was a church in Cary using the money to build a women's hospital in Haiti. It was my first 10k.  My dream (and maybe it is a dream) is to do a half marathon.  I see all these weight loss shows where the participants are able to do it, and I would love to scratch this one off my bucket list!!!..The trail was in Apex, but it was the most magnificent trail I have ever ran.  It was wooded and shaded (of course it was cool anyway in the morning) and COMPLETELY flat!!  Oh, how I wish we had a trail like this in our areas.  No hills whatsoever.....just miles and miles of this trail. (it is the tobacco trail).  Josh of course ran ahead of me and got a $20 gift card because he finished first in his age group (the only one in his age group:) ).  Jake and Jenna did a one mile fun run.  I don't know why I felt like such a failure in this race.  Maybe it was because there was not a huge number of participants and I finished toward the back of the pack.  Maybe it was because my sweet husband had to stay at my pace instead of going and perhaps getting an award himself. Maybe I feel like I disappointed him. I don't know what it was, but I didn't feel good.  Maybe I should just run by myself from now on and let everyone do their own thing and not feel pressure to keep up. 
     I ran the first 2.5 miles fine, although I couldn't believe it was only 2 miles when I hit the official sign.  In fact I am proud that I actually ran the first mile in 10 1/2 minutes (now I am showing how slow I am because I am going to show my honesty and admit I usually run 12-12 1/2 min miles).  The second mile I still was keeping an 11 min/mile pace.  After that my mind took over and I felt the task impossible.  My legs started hurting so I turned on my phone and started my run 3 min/walk 1 minute application.  I was hoping to make it 3 or more miles before that happened, but I didn't.  So, for the rest of the race I used my Jeff Galloway program and did my run/walk thing.
      Jeff Galloway has this program that he says is successful.  Supposedly runners are not as fatigued and also finish in better times.  I have used this for the past months and really like it.  It helps to have a minute to walk and catch my breath, but sometimes I wish I could reverse it and walk 3 min and run 1 minute!!  My next "dream" is to run/walk (I guess I can't say I run anymore) a 10 mile race and I still have my Big Dream of the half marathon in April.  Maybe it is just a dream, so stay tuned in the next several months to see if I am dreaming or if it becomes a reality and I actually do it in April!!

Parenting

Have you ever watched some families with kids?  Not all families but certain families.  I'm thinking of one or two at church.  I also am a big fan of 19 kids and counting.  Although we don't get cable, I have watched every episode I could and watch them on you tube and follow their blog every day.  The Duggers and some of these other families seem to just have it all together.  Although they don't have perfect kids and they are not perfect parents, these families seem to just have the "perfect" little families.  They have seemed to master the parenting techniques down.  They don't seem to "lose" it with their kids and the kids seem talented, respectful and put together.  I fall so short of these families.  I know we are not to compare to others, but sometimes there are times I wish I could go back and start all over again.  Since I fall so short, I'm sure most of this has been passed on to my kids.  Although I am far from Michelle Dugger and the other moms, I do hope that some day my kids know how much I love them and how every decision I make is what I think is best for them.  I hope they know I will stick up for them and defend them.  I hope they know that "Mama bear doesn't let people mess with her cubs".

Broken Bones and such

Thursday night the four of us went to the park for a run (Jack was out with a friend).  Jacob and Jenna are practicing for their one mile fun run.  When they were finished, they got their gatorade out of the car and headed to the playground and Josh and I continued our run.  When I came back from the run, Jacob was holding his arm.  Apparently he played Ninja Warrior and missed the bar:). I gave him ice and Tylenol but he woke me up at 2 am in pain.  Needless to say after multiple appointments on Friday, we found out his wrist was fractured.  First broken bone of the McLean household.  Neither Jack or I have broken a bone and my kids have made it free up to this point.  We got his temporary "plastic" splint yesterday.  I have a feeling insurance won't pay for this plastic thing and this little thing will cost about $500.
     Thinking of broken bones, I think of those who are broken in spirit.  Hurting just like Jacob, yet in other ways.  So many people are too eager to post their every need wanting someone to meet it (like begging for financial help) but so many people we have contact with every day have needs or hurts and never say a word.  My heart goes out to these people.  I had a friend at church share about how they were hurting, yet no one else knows. You never know how much just an encouraging word can do for a person.  You never know who is hurting.  Be a blessing to someone today!!  You may not be able to heal a broken bone, but you can help heal a broken spirit.