Walker Run: Live for Today!

Also, I wanted to take a moment to pass along some information in case there is anyone who has not heard about it yet. There will be a Walker Run on April 9th, 2011. Please take a moment to read a little bit about the event, and plan on attending! If you cannot attend, prayer is still coveted by the Walker [and Pigg] families.

This fun run/walk has been put together by the Belmont University Physical Therapy class of 2003. The purpose of this event is to help support Sara and her family as the walk this difficult road, and to also continue to savor life!

The Walker Run - please click for more information

Run New Routes

This past weekend was such a perfect day to run! The weather here in Nashville was amazing, and Ayns and I woke up early to go on an 8 mile run.  To switch things up a bit, we used the website Map My Run to find a new route to try. If you haven't used that site yet, I highly suggest it. It is filled with many routes for running, biking, etc., that people have already mapped out and given directions. It is a quick and easy way to find somewhere new to run without having to go track the distance yourself ahead of time. 

The particular route we chose had us passing by some lovely parts of Nashville, including Centennial Park, Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Music Row, and Lover's Circle, and down West End. It was a great start to the day, and as for the run itself... we felt great! It was my best feeling run yet! I love days like that, when you can just feel how great your body is taking to the long stretch of road.

Hope everyone is doing great, and if you're training also... let us hear about how it's going!

View of Downtown Nashville from Demonbreun [start of Music Row]

Take a Moment to Savor

Today I am inspired... yet again.  There are days when I [and most of you I'm sure] feel overwhelmed and just incredibly busy.  I find myself occasionally making excuses for not going to the gym, for cutting my run a little short, and even sometimes not returning phone calls.  Why?  Because I'm tired.  Full-time teaching art at an elementary school, while fun and exciting, can be an energy zapper.  Most of us feel that way at times.  Today I am inspired.  And I am so thankful for it!  During my planning period this morning I took a moment to check my email, and found a "journal update" from dear Sara.  Today she has reminded me to savor.  My daily schedule and what I consider "battles" sometimes are very small in comparison to the journey she is facing.  Yet she savors even the small moments in her day.  


Today I am inspired... to SAVOR!  I will make a conscious effort to not sweat the small stuff, to quit making excuses just because I'm tired, and to do a better job of returning phone calls and messages from those dear to me.  I will SAVOR those relationships, I will SAVOR the fact that I have been blessed with the ability to run, and I will SAVOR the beautiful day God has given me. 


I hope today you will be inspired.  Please comment and share how you are inspired and what it is you want to savor more.  And if you have not had a chance to read Sara's journal of her daily walk, I encourage you to do so!


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sarawalker


Have a wonderful day!
P

Sorry for the delay...

Sorry for the delay in posts...This has been a rather busy week.  How has this week been going for everyone? Paige and I did some running and spinning this week.  I never was a big fan of spinning.. but I decided to give it another go. It was a great workout for our legs nonetheless. It has been a rather cold week in Nashville.  As I'm sitting for 2 hours in the parking lot, otherwise known as Franklin Rd. on the way home from work amidst the winter storm on Wednesday, I see a black beanie bobbing up and down on my left...a-ha! There was a runner... probably laughing at all of us that were STUCK. That's dedication.

Paige is doing some hiking today in Phoenix and the weather in Nashville has been great today! I wanted to share a recipe that Paige and I tried on Monday night.

Chicken Soft Tacos with Sauteed Onions and Apples
Serves 4 (serving size is 2 tacos)

Ingredients:
-cooking spray (olive oil preferred)
-1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
-1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-1 tablespoon SmartStart
-2 cups thinly sliced onion
-2 cups peeled, thinly sliced Granny Smith apple (about 2 apples)
-2 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 (6 inch) La Tortilla Factory low car tortillas

1. Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and place over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with nutmeg and black pepper. Add chicken to the pan; saute 7 minutes or until golden. Remove the chicken from pan; keep warm.
2. Melt SmartStart in pan over medium heat. Add onion; cook for 4 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Add apple; cook 6 minutes or until golden, stirring frequently. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Return chicken to pan; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently.
3. Heat tortillas according to package directions. Arrange 1/2 cup chicken mixture evenly over each tortilla.

Nutrition per serving: 354 calories, 7.6 g of fat, 305 mg of sodium, 4.8 g of fiber, 31.5 g of carbohydrates

(recipe taken from "Making the Cut" by Jillian Michaels)


It was delicious!! Give it a try sometime this week!!

-A

Brand New Week

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  For us [Aynsley and I], this was our weekend to run 6 miles.  We were able to accomplish it, but it wasn't easy!  The weather was a challenge for sure: we waited until noon on Saturday to run, thinking we would give it time to warm up a little.  Not so!  I'm pretty sure the temperature DROPPED while we were out there!  And did I mention the wind?!  At one point Ayns said that she felt like we were running in place.  Luckily there were several other people running the same route we were, so that was a little bit of motivation.

Speaking of motivation, what better place to find daily motivation than from the Living Word?  We all need encouragement every day, no matter what our circumstance.  If any of you would like to, please share  a verse or saying that motivates you throughout the day.  Then, if you would add one that you would like to share with Sara and her family, please include that as well.  After all, we may be running the race [literally] in April, but she is running a different kind of race every single day.  Let's take a moment to encourage our sister in Christ.

Here's a couple:

My personal motivation:

"God, help me to be a pure vehicle for your love, and light, and wisdom."

- Steven Sadleir

For Sara:

Psalm 71:14

"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

"I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God's power to guide me, 

God's power to uphold me,

God's eyes to watch over me;

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to give me speech,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to shelter me,

God's host to secure me."

- Irish - first millennium - Brigid of Gael

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

- P -

A Cocktail of Thoughts "Running" Through My Brain. baha.

It was planned for Sara to have started Chemo today.  Please pray for her over the next 48 hours, as she will have the pump connected for this period of time before she returns to the MD to have it removed.  Also, pray that her response to the treatment is positive and that the side effects are minimal.


It has been brought to my attention that the training schedule listed at the bottom of the blog is a bit... intimidating.  As first time runners/exercisers, it may seem like a bit much right off.  We didn't note that this schedule here on our blog is just OUR (meaning, mine and Paige's) training schedule. There are many, many different schedules according to your exercise/running history, experience/inexperience, speed goals, etc. Before beginning to train for a race, Paige typically starts from the race date and counts backwards as to gage where to start according to how much time there is until RACE DAY.  There is a link listed below that has some different training schedules you can take a look at.
Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training Guide


Also, Runner's World is a favorite of mine and Paige's. It has all kinds of helpful tips for beginning to advanced runners. I currently have a subscription to the magazine and really love it.  Here's the link to the website. 
Runner's World


***Don't let extreme weather conditions get you off track. As running on a treadmill isn't ideal, at times it has to be done. There are a few things you can do while running on the treadmill to simulate outdoor running: 
1. compensate for the lack of wind resistance by setting the TM to a 1-2% incline
2.  Simulate downhill running by lowering the machine to a negative incline (not all models have this capability).
3. replicate ups and downs of rolling terrain by frequently adjusting the speed and incline settings
-These subtle changes work different muscles in your legs, which makes you stronger and prepares you for road running.


HAPPY TRAINING!
-A- 
******************REMEMBER TO CLICK THE LINK THAT SAYS "FOLLOW" ON THE SIDE OF THE PAGE TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH SARA, RUN/WALKING INFO, AND MORE!! OUR FEBRUARY GIVE-AWAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...STAYYYYY TUNED!********************

Let's Get Started!

Okay, first things first.... if you are wanting to join us on this journey of hope, health, and healing, please go ahead and sign up for the Country Music Half Marathon.  If you have never participated in an event like this, don't get freaked out by the price.  Yes, it is cheaper the earlier you sign up, but honestly... by the time race day comes around, you won't even remember/care.

Next up, the training plan.  We will be glad to assist you with this, or you can just check out the calendar we have on this blog, and it will keep you up to date on workouts, runs, etc.  Are you feeling overwhelmed yet?  I hope not.

Third is nutrition.  Yes, this is vital to being able to perform your best on April 30.  Whether you are a walker, runner, jogger, or crawler... this is still going to be an important part of successfully completing the race.  Stay tuned for nutrition tips, recipes, dos & don'ts, etc.

Other than that... get out and get moving!

For those of you who want to support us and more importantly, Sara, in this, please continue to check in with us here to see what is going on and what you can do to help.  What can anybody do?  Pray.  Continue to pray for strength, understanding, peace, and comfort for the Walker and Pigg families.