Prayer and reflection on Boston

Last night's workout was somber.  With the events of the day in Boston and everything, I spent most of my time reflecting and praying.  My prayers were rich and full.  I mourned for those who because of the blasts would never walk or run again.  I prayed for all in the world with disabilities and problems that make mobility so difficult.  I gave thanks that I did not have that hindrance and hoped that I never would.

I prayed for understanding of how all this could happen.  I began reflecting on a song I heard several years ago at a youth gathering.  It is about having trust and peace and giving all of our struggle and pain to God.  Here is the song http://jacobsroad.com/mp3/ichoosetrustsamp.mp3.  It is a beautiful song about peace and hope amidst tragedy and despair.

I have gone to this song many times in the past few years when the world has been rocked from beneath me.  So often we get lost in the whys and the hows that rarely give us answers or peace.  When I read Phillipians 4:13 I struggle to see beyond the promise of Christ being there and that he has control, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  I know that I am a week puddle of mush and worth nothing if I ever lose sight of the fact that I am a child of God and know that God is with me and gives me strength to fight through everything that this temporal world throws at me.  I find peace in the trusting in God to see the pains and heartaches of the world and know that I can lay them at the feet of Jesus and know that I am redeemed.

As I continued my workout, I prayed for the running community, those who have felt the victory of crossing that finish line, those who have tasted the glory of training for any race and that dedication to finish the race and feel the victory of accomplishment.  They are hurting today, Lord.  They are struggling.  The Boston Marathon runners had that finish line taken and ripped from them.  That victory was not felt yesterday and instead was left in a cloud of smoke and debris.

I prayed for those who fear.  Those who fear doing anything and trying anything because of the doubts of victory, the fear of something happening.  Living a life of fear and doubt is no way to live.  It is painful to live a life of perceived safety and security because you won't try.   I prayed for that release of doubt and fear in my life.

This workout may have only been 30 minutes, but the swirl of emotions lasted clear through the night.

God, be with those who are hurting, those who mourn loss, for those who fear going anywhere for what might happen.  Help us...help me to remember that promise in I Corinthians 9:24 that we are all running a race together.  We are all looking for that victory and help us to live a life of victory in that race.  Help all to know that we should live life to the fullest and always know that YOU are there to redeem even the greatest troubles in the world.  AMEN

A few simple truths about Mariesa

This morning, as I have perused the web, I started to find inspiration for my next blog.  I don't want everyday to be just about my workout or why I haven't worked out... so what do I write about?

A few simple truths.

1 - I have no idea how much weight I have lost?  I hate the scale.  I refuse to get on the scale.  The scale is just a number.  This challenges me when people know I am working out and say, "Oh how much weight have you lost?"  No clue.  One friend who knows my feelings on the scale will instead say, "Wow you really must be dropping the weight."  To this I can reply, "Thank you and I hope so."  I could religiously step on the scale and watch the numbers rise and fall but really what does that tell me about who I am?  What does that number identify about Mariesa Robbins anymore than I am overweight.  My BMI is too high.  You know what?  I am a fairly active, healthy obese person by my doctor's standards.  Nothing is more frustrating than going through the yearly physical and hearing that all my numbers are healthy and within check and I am a healthy obese person.  Gee thanks.  So, I just don't get on a scale.

2 - I have never been a depressed fat person.  I realize that being overweight can be very trying on a person.  I realize that buying the next pant size up can be traumatizing.  The images in the magazines don't affect me, truthfully.  I am who I am.  I do not let much in this world stop me.  I am bold.  I realize there are those who will look at me like a lazy sloth, but they obviously have not walked a mile in my shoes and obviously have no idea what they are talking about.

3 - I am not on a diet.  There again, if I said I was on a diet, then that means I am trying to lose weight.  The truth is, I am making healthy choices.  I like food.  I LOVE bacon.  I don't like processed food but sometimes I have to eat that choice because of time.  I am a youth director and that job comes with pizza.  I wish it didn't.  I would love to find a healthy alternative, but guess what?  It is cheap.  My budget is cheap.  My pastor was shocked to find out that I actually really do not even like pizza.  Yesterday we celebrated my husband's birthday with cake and I ate a big piece.  (Now, it was lowfat icecream and lowfat coolwhip but the calories were there).

Now, I do have to say that I have dieted.  I have lost with Weight Watchers in high school.  I lost with Body for Life and really loved that program.  I use a lot of the principles from that program in understanding portion sizes.  I have read many good and bad things about the Paleo Diet and Atkins and thousands of other ones.  All in all, they are not for me.  I try to just eat healthy and realize that sometimes I will have a Krispy Kreme donut and the world will not end.  

4.  My go to after workout food is a giant pickle for leg cramps and either celery and peanut butter or frozen banana blended with peanut butter to make "ice cream."  My other favorite after workout food is Kale Chips.  If I have Kale in the house or remember to pick it up at the store, I will eat a whole head of Kale made into these FABULOUS chips.  They are loaded with good vitamins and I salt them because I crave salt after a hard workout.  

5.  I am an emotional eater.  BRING ON THE CHIPS AND HOT SAUCE.  There, I said it.  Stress comes and goes.  It is what it is.  Do I let that get me down?  No.  I do realize that my next workout is probably going to suck if I have had chips and hot sauce and emotional eating is not a daily or even weekly occurence.  It happens.

There are many more truths about Mariesa.  These are the straight forward ones.


Yesterday's workout was good -
Weight training -- need some more ab and arm exercises to really feel the burn
Stair Climber of Doom -- I did 10 minutes and 22 flights of stairs.  Woohoo

Goals. There has got to be some goals.

Tonight my mind was not totally into my workout.  I was there but it took awhile to get into the groove.  As I finished up my Lenten Journey, I realized that I would need to set some new goals just so I continue to have something to strive for.

Tonight, I biked for 6 miles at 18.6 miles an hour.  After that, I decided I wanted to again conquer the treadmill.  So, off I went.  I still very much follow an interval training sequence.  This is to push my speed but also to take some breaks from running.  I finished my mile in 17 minutes and 52 seconds.  WOW, that is 10 seconds faster than last time.  I realize that is not always going to happen, but I also realize that my comfort level on the treadmill has got to increase before I can get faster.

I jogged solidly at 3.7 miles an hour for one entire song.  That is almost 5 minutes.  That was crazy to me to see how far I have come and actually want to go faster and enjoy it.  Who would have ever thought that I would enjoy jogging?  It truly is mind boggling.

I have not felt comfortable breaking the 4.0 barrier on the treadmill.  Not that that is fast, I know I can run it but my comfort level and my adverse relationship with falling and looking like a crazy person keep me from pushing that 4.0 button.

So more about these goals...

•  I am making it my personal goal for the month of April to make it a point to conquer the treadmill at least twice a week.  
•  I also want to break the 4.0 barrier.  
• By the end of the month I want to try a Zumba class.  They look fun.  I know I will look like an idiot but I don't really care what other's think as long as I am having fun.  
• Increase my water intake so that when I exercise I do not drink like crazy and get parched. 
• And since this blog is also about prayer, it is very necessary that I always remember to give thanks and praise to God for taking me on this crazy journey and blessing me with the opening of doors to new opportunities and new ways to push myself.

I found this and thought it was fitting to close.  I think I will add it to the beginning of each trip to the gym and especially the treadmill.

A milestone however small is still a milestone

When I decided last year that I wanted to do a 5k, I was slow.  Really, I was really really slow.  I never thought I would actually jog.  I never thought I would get through a mile in any respectable time.  At first I went at 2.5 miles an hour.  I hate the treadmill.  My biggest fear is falling off.  I know I won't but I know that I could.  

As I began this journey, I would think about making prayer part of the exercise, but was never very good at it.  I was too focused on the numbers and the times.  

My first 5k was in Bastrop.  It was a treacherous 5k but I made it.  My first mile was 26 minutes with A WHOLE LOT of hill.  I felt victorious and defeated at the same time.  

Yesterday, I stepped back on the treadmill.  I have been doing eliptical training and bike for the longest time and letting the treadmill mock me.  I hate the treadmill.  I am working with an interval training program similar to couch to 5k to try and increase my speed and try to jog continuously.  It is long and arduous but I can see improvement.  Yesterday, I completed a mile in 18 minutes.  

Joshua 4:5-7 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Yesterday will stand as my milestone of breaking successfully the 20 minute mile that has been daunting me.  It was still labored but I know it is only a matter of time before I start seeing even greater results and even a stronger sense of who I am on this journey.  

Praise be to God. 

AMEN

I forgot to add my running total --
Friday I did another 4 miles on the bike
also did some ab work
Monday I did 1 mile on the treadmill in 18 minutes
also did arm work and ab work

And then there are times you have to submit to your limitations

This morning was great.  I volunteered with Bountiful Baskets.  I took home some FABULOUS veggies and fruits.  I also got 10 pounds of asparagus.  I was in heaven.  I got my haircut and then went to lunch with the family. 

On the way home, I got lightheaded.  Pollen in San Antonio is unreal right now which constantly wreaks  havoc on my life.  I have always had moments of lightheadedness.  It comes with the allergic territory.  This was unlike anything I had felt before. 

So, off to the doctor we went because this was unreal.  Every slight movement made my head spin more.  Vertigo.  That is no fun whatsoever.  Also inner ear infection and allergic rhinitis. 

I had plans to do some additional cardio and arm exercises tonight.  I was looking forward to that. 

Now I have bought myself a trip to the sick couch for the time being.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30

Many times I want to do all and be all and never give in to anything.  There are times that kicks me in the butt and back into reality.  Rest is good. Rest renews.  Apparently, I need rest and that is ok. 

So last night, my workout partner, Zoe, decided we needed to try the machine that I have dreaded the thought of since the day I started working out a gym again.  I have always been intrigued with it.  I always wondered if it was really hard.  I am not adverse to the thought of stair climbers, but this machine is different.  

First off, there is no graceful way for someone to climb on to this monstrous beast.  Really, it just always looked daunting.  But, I accepted the challenge.  The laughter and ridicule could not have been too horrible but I was still skeptical.  Up, I climbed.  

It is really scarier than it looks.  (at least the getting on it part)  So, I climbed on set it at level 2 for 10 minutes.  I really thought I could only do 5 but I was going to try.  It was easier than it looked.  Level 2 was very conservative but I am not in the best shape and did not want to fall off.  After 2 minutes, I knew this needed to be in my workout regimen weekly. At 10 minutes, I climbed 20 flights of stairs and realized that I could do all things, just had to have faith to try.  

So there you have it.  In life, we conquer things that seem very scary.  We don't want to step out in faith because we would never want others to judge us.  We want to always be on top.  Our fears should never be driven by uncertainty.  Even Peter doubted.  He stepped out of the boat to Jesus and doubted.  He began to sink and then grabbed Jesus hand.  What if he had never even gotten out of the boat?

So Far this week:

Bike: 26 miles (over 3 workouts)

Stairs of Doom: 10 minutes and 20 flights

Weights: 2 days total body

Goals:  Look for ways to intensify my arm workouts and ab workouts.  Conquer the treadmill.  

If you would like to be included in my prayers during cardio workouts, please send me a message and let me know or email me with specific prayer requests at mariesa@ctk-uc.org

and now we run...

On Ash Wednesday this year, I set out on a journey.  It was a journey that I fully did not think I could complete.  It was a challenge that I chose to accept because it meant enough to me to try.  I set out to run a mile (which turned into also biking a mile) for each and every person on my prayer list.  Many people are constantly in my prayers, others wanted to be included as a way of supporting my journey.

I prayed for several weeks on what all my goal would include.  Lent is a very private and personal thing for me, so to put my Lenten Journey out there was difficult.  Also, I did not want to fail.  What if I could not complete the miles?  What if WAY too many people wanted prayers and I could not do it?  I had so many doubts.  But, I did it.  I asked for people's names on Facebook (as most of them are very near and dear to me).

This was not a journey to lose weight.  I will be honest and upfront right now and say that, yes I need to lose weight.  I am not blind to that.  I am more interested in my health, my well being and the realization that at age 36, I never want to have to back down from any challenge and want to be fit enough to do so.

By Ash Wednesday, my goals were set -- 85 miles.  Wow, that seemed like an unattainable goal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Journey Begins.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:24

Some translations use the word victorious in place of prize.  I prefer victory because that makes each prize very different.  The first couple weeks were great.  I fulfilled my weekly goals and was totally focused.  I added a goal as I went of acknowledging to the people that I was praying for them.  It was not necessary but just made the whole experience more personal.  I wanted to make this Lenten Journey not about me, not about my health, but about my overall relationship with God through my prayer life and my respect for my body in health.  

I had challenges.  We all do.  There were 2 weeks that  I did not reach my goal.  I knew that would make my overall goal more difficult which caused me great guilt.  I also realized at times eliptical training was not an option and that intense biking could still help me reach my goal.  This again brought in guilt because I was not giving equal prayer time to all.  (I really self sabotage myself way more than I should.)

As the weeks progressed, I found my prayers becoming more intense thoughout the day and my focus on other people becoming more important than I ever thought possible.  I wanted to check in and see how people were, I wanted to know what they wanted prayers for.  

By the Saturday before Easter, I had 15 miles remaining.  These 15 miles were on top of lots of Easter preparations, lots of things that had to get done, but nothing was more important to me than being victorious.  

I did it.  As the bike reached 15.0, I really felt an overwhelming sense of emotion that I had made it.  I tasted victory.  It was not as I had originally intended but I pushed on toward my prize and ultimately my deeper focus on others, myself and MOST importantly my relationship with God.  

And now my journey continues.  My story is not over.  My fitness goals are even greater.  I definitely am going to continue the prayers for others.  (You never know when you might get a note or letter).  God is not done with me yet.  I plan on keeping my eye on the ultimate victory of a fabulous relationship with God.  

AMEN