Yesterday I completed the Country Music Half Marathon. To be perfectly honest, I have been ACTIVELY DREADING the race for a couple of weeks. Mostly because I over-committed myself and I was straight-up freaked out about how I was going to feel as I tried to conquer the mountainous (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration) race course. But also because I really didn’t want to leave all the fabulous friends I made in California.

Suprisingly, the race was good. Really good. About mile 3, I lost my running buddies and was aptly reminded that this race was not about distractions, not about who I was running with, not about who was cheering me on…but about me and Him.

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I didn’t push myself because I was operating on little-to-no sleep, but still I finished the race in under 3 hours (2:56 with a bathroom break to be exact). More importantly, I raised over $1,000 for New Hope Academy. (A special thanks to each of you who contributed.)

Mission Accomplished. Today I will celebrate in those victories. Tomorrow I will start packing for Chicago…

What victories have you celebrated lately?

On Saturday, April 24, I will be running (actually it will be more of a jog/walk combo per the Galloway method but who cares about the specifics) the Country Music Half Marathon.

This is not my first half marathon and hopefully it will not be my last, but it is important nonetheless. This year I am running with “Powered by Hope” on behalf of New Hope Academy.

If you have never heard of New Hope Academy, let me take this opportunity to introduce to this incredible place.

New Hope Academy is like NO OTHER school I have stepped inside.

New Hope Academy exudes hope. (I know…it hard to picture an elementary school exuding anything but the smelly funk that comes with young boys, but New Hope does.)

New Hope Academy is a window into a world where racial and financial divisions do not exist. (And what a beautiful world that is!)

New Hope Academy fosters an environment where students can dream BIG DREAMS.

And most importantly, the faculty at New Hope Academy makes sure each student knows that they are loved completely and fully by God. (Can you imagine having this drilled into you at an early age? How it would have altered your adolescence?)

All this to say…Would you please consider supporting me as I run jog/walk 13.1 miles on behalf of  the children of New Hope so they can continue hoping and dreaming?

If so, venture over to my Firstgiving page to make a donation. Anything you can give is appreciated.

In the first post, I admitted I want to get married. So today I thought I’d tackle something a little less, how do I say it, well a little less humiliating. (Kidding. Kidding. In all honesty putting the whole marriage thing out there was so worth it. You guys were incredibly supportive and encouraging.)

I want to get fit.

I don’t know that I’ve ever actually been “fit.” I have been skinny. I have been fat. I have been an obsessive exerciser. I have been an award-winning couch potato. But I don’t think I’ve ever had the balance that would truly make me fit.

So that is what I am after, fit-ness.

I know that there is going to be some pain involved in this goal. And candidly I’m not a huge fan of pain. (I hate pain. Avoid it at all costs.) But hopefully it will be worth it.

I actually have a plan for how I am going to begin chipping away at this daunting goal, desire, dream. (Yay me!)

I am going to train for and participate in the Country Music Half Marathon with the Powered by Hope Team. Yes, I’ve finished two halves before.

But this time I will be different. This time I am going to stick with a training schedule. This time I am going to push myself past the pain. This time I am going to also be conscious of what I using as fuel. This time I will cross the finish line proud of the race that I have run. This time I won’t just be thinking about finishing the race. This time I will have a goal in mind, getting fit.

If you want to join me as I get fit and raise some money for an incredible and inspiring organization, visit http://whatpowersyou.org.

PS – I am hoping a by product of getting fit, is getting “sporty.” Because well…it is my favorite adjective. No lie…my favorite adjective.

Would you consider yourself fit? What does fit-ness look like in your life?

I ran (for lack of a better verb) with the Powered by Hope Team to raise scholarship money for kids to attend New Hope Academy. I can personally attest that this is a great cause. New Hope Academy is an incredible school with an audacious vision, to transform culture by creating a new generation of Christ-like leaders. I raised $670 dollars, of my $1,000 goal, and money is still trickling in. (You can donate here, by the way.)

Although I would have liked to have run faster and raised more, finishing 13.1 miles in the 75+ degree heat with the Nashville sun beating down on you and collecting over $500 is an accomplishment any way you slice it. But for some reason, I did not properly celebrate.

From the moment I crossed the finish line, even as I was running the race, I was thinking about how I was going to do it better next time. I was strategizing about my training. I was scheming about my fund raising. Last night, I realized that I truly never celebrated my completion. So today, I am taking a moment, to say “Yay Lindsey, you finished the race, a job well done.”

So tell me…how about you, do you take time to celebrate your achievements? Or do you find yourself always moving straight ahead to what is next?

Candidly there have been times when I resented those that exuded discipline. Yes, I said it – early risers, Weight Watchers success stories, check book balancers, and Iron Men – I have resented you for having motivation and follow-through that I could not muster.

Lindsey, Whitney, and Joe - 2008 Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN

In January, I began training for the Country Music Half Marathon. I participated in the race last year, but my training was pitiful. This year I am training with  Powered by Hope and the Galloway Group. Our training runs are at 7 AM every Saturday morning, rain or shine. And get this, I actually look forward to it! Once I embraced this discipline, I felt happier and more accomplished.

I am hoping my discipline streak continues…we’ll see.

How do you really feel about discipline?

By the way, as I run the half marathon I am raising money for New Hope Academy. Visit here if you’d like to donate. It is a great cause!