To Spin or not to Spin that is the question

"That hurt worse than childbirth!" :) These were my first words to my husband at 7:00 am in the morning as I walked through the door from my first 5:30 am spin class.  I was walking this funny John Wyane like waddle! lol!!! "The music was tooo loud and not my style. Yes, I feel old talking about music being to loud lol! When the teacher got her mic to close to the PA system and the thing let out this piercing noise that was louder than a firetruck blowing a siren in my ear and more annoying than fingers scrapping a chalk board, it took allllll I had to stay on that oh so painful seat!!!"

By the grace of God I suffered and survived; walked through my front door and fell to my knees in prayer! I praised God for getting me though that class and begged Him to help me be more comfortable in the next Spin class if He was really callling me to train for a half ironman triathlon.

In the weeks that followed I bought a jell pad for my seat. Aaawwww that's a bit better. Praise God! I don't feel the need for an epidural now. It's not pain free mind u but tolerable.

Next God helped me bring my own music. phewwwwwwwww now that is a welcome relief. I don't have to hear curse words that would curl my mother's toes or hear that song about someone liking a big butt :) I mean I'm on the bike to loose this big buttom, a song celebrating a big gluteus Maximus seems counter productive to me lol! Oh the JOY and PEACE that fill my SOUL while listening to Praise Music now. 
Wearing my headset ear buds saves my ears from permanent damage from the squeaking PA :).

And... Now I stay injury FREE because when the teacher yells..."Turn it - one more baby!" (baby yea baby right?!) "Turn to the right".... what she is saying is, make it harder by increasing the tension - as if it were not hard enough already. :)  anyway now I can pretend I don't hear her and I don't submit to the group peer pressure to do more than my body is able to do :). That alone helped me stop dreading the class.

I take two bottles of water and at least one Gu now and that made a world of difference too!!!!

God also taught me how to take a small towel (cup towel size) the gym provides them :) and I get it wet with the ice cold water from the water fountain, squeeze it out and put it on the back of my neck. Ohhhh that feels soooo good on my neck.  I wipe the sweat off my face and back and arms w this cold towel toooo. and on VERY HOT outside rides when I remember to roll ICE into the towel and slowly let it melt on my neck that is a REAL BLESSING from God toooo.  I PRAISE God EVERY time He lets me roll ice into a towel to keep me cool!

I really do not enjoy being hot or sweating. Can't imagine why God would call me to do an ironman, half ironman, marathon or anything that is not in the controlled temperature environment with an a/c lol!

Ok, oh, back to the subject. Oh, yes, God helped me with comfort, nutrition and hydration and peace with Praise music :). Then about a year into taking the class I finally forked up the money for some bike shorts and spin shoes. Wow! Was I ever dumb for waiting so long. I mean would a fisherman go fishing without a rod or bait. No. What was I thinking. I wasn't thinking, I was sabotaging myself.

It is fun to ride w a coach and and a room full of other amazing folks who wake up around 4:30 a.m.  I have tried spinning in an empty Spin classroom and it is VERY hard to push myself or to keep going for an hour and I never push myself as much as I do with a coach and a class full of riders! So, thank you God for the lead Gooose and the flock of geese that pull me along! Have you ever watched Geese flying? They are a TEAM and they help each other and that is the way God has helped me see a group of people exercising together.

Oh, on the subject of waking up at 4:30 a.m...  that could be a blog on it's own :) - it took me MONTHS of trying to make these 4:30 a.m. wake ups... I had goooood intentions each night only to give into sleep each am.  This STILL happens but when I get in the habit of getting up early :) It is a REAL BLESSING :) to me personally, the family God has blessed me to be a part of and honestly to anyone I am around... I AM a MUCH happier person when I GET UP EARLY and get Bible Study/Exercise in EARLY!!! It is always TOTALLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WHEN IT HAPPENS! Praise and Glory to God on High!!!

I sure remember thinking no one will be awake at that early time in the am.. and I was, still am, really SURPRISED to see people driving around at this time... mind you it is often the newspaper and delivery cars. :)
 
Can you believe this - the FIRST time I went to class I could not even get a bike the room was full. I remember walking away in frustration and sadness - thinking ANYONE ANYONE who get's up at 4:30 am and goes out in the cold DESERVES a bike at least... BUT to my surprise I found out LOTS of folks get up and train EVERYDAY at 4:30am. and  they get to class EARLY to get the bike they want and if I was 5 min late I get a bike that needs repaired or even NO BIKE ALL! OUCH!!! Maybe the early bird does get the worm or at least a spin bike lol!

back to the subject of the class - I love to watch the big screen movies of the bike rides. Well everything except the bike crashes. Oh, no, here it comes again.... I have to turn my head when they crash! I DO NOT need those mental images in my mind.

Oh and just incase you are reading this and planning to take your first spin class - go early or even the day before and try out the bike - it honestly felt a bit strange getting on that spin bike to me... it was not like riding a bike as a child and not like the bikes in the exercise stores or even other bikes in the gym.  I had never seen a bike that had resistance built in - maybe you have but I hadn't and... well the clip in shoes, they are an experiance all there own... also the teacher will fit you (Tell you how to move the seat up or down, front or back and handel bars up or down... ) anyway all that DOES make a difference and will help you not get injured... I hurt my knee by not doing this my first week of spin class. (my first week was ONE class that week :)) some weeks I make TWO now :) on really good weeks I make THREE.  but with Swim class, Weight Class, Running group and Water Aerobic choices well the others often win out over spin.  Just telling the truth so you don't get this idea that I'm on a bike everyday in the gym at 5:30 am :)

On the flip side, riding on the road w a group is awesome!!!! With a good group leader I feel safe even with the drinking/driving, texting/driving and people who seem to just want to hit us for the extra points lol! sharing the road with us... hum I don't have to worry about these folks at all in the spin class :)

In spin class I also don't have to think about if I'm shifting right.  When we stop at traffic lights I often forget to shift into a lower gear on the open road, that can't happen in spin class. I don't have to load and unload the bike for spin class. I also don't have to worry about popping a tired in a pot hole or on glass. or even wear and tear on my personal bike. It's much easier to drink water/sports drinks  and eat clif bars or gu on the stationary bike too. I burn more calories on the Spin Bike. I've never got a sunburn on a spin bike. :). and I may complain about it being cold from my front door to my car and from my car to the gym but that is nothing compaired to the cold riding an hour or more on the bike OUTSIDE :)

soooo with all that I bet u think the Spin Bike wins right. You know .... TO Spin or NOT to Spin??? Well, Nope, not even close..... The open road wins out everytime..... really you say - how can that be?

Well, I can't feel the breeze on my face on the Spin bike, :) I never have that weeeee I feel like I'm flying feeling on my spin bike - going down, down, down a hill on a real bike, outside, well, it's just easier FOR SURE than anything on a spin bike and more FUN, FUN, FUN and to watch the sunrises, sunsets and see God's beautiful flowers, trees, birds, animals, smell fresh air, hear the water falling as you pass a river, hear the laughter of children playing and did I mention feeling the wind in your face :) ....or the drizzle of rain or the feeling of leaves falling from a tree on you - it just doesn't get better than that....

Back to reality...I've never had to change a flat on my Spin Bike or had to walk the Spin Bike up a very very steep hill and. I've yet to fall off the Spin bike lol!

well yes the Spin bike hurt worse that childbirth and the feeling of riding on the open road is well, honestly, to me like holding that new born baby in my arms...  both serve a purpose... childbirth brings new life and exercise brings new life into our bodies and the JOY and BLISS of holding that new born is well what makes childbirth worth the WORK...

so SPIN SPIN SPIN --- yep to spin or not to spin.... SPIN.... BUT if you can .... well ride on the open road and PRAISE God for the BLISS and BREEZE in your face and the SIGHTS of His world and the smells of His world and the sounds of His world. 

Romans 1:20 "Since earliest of times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of His existence and great eternal power so we will have no excuse when we stand before God on Judgment Day."

A Perfect Race - Wounded Warrior 2011 - Irving Texas 2011
My 6th Half Marathon this year! YAY GOD!


6-12-2011 Today God let me run a perfect race...

Up 5:00 a.m. home by noon :) Yea God! We live in McKinney - Race in the William's Square of Irving!

Faith (Daughter age 9) and John (Husband) were supportive and happy alllllll day long :) Yay God!!!!!!!

This was my first time to do race day registration and it was so much easier than I thought it would be.
Took a total of at the most 5 min! AWESOME VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Left our house at 5:30 and arrived at the race at 6:15 PERFECT timing hardly any traffic and not much traffic going into the race parking. LOTS of easy to get to Race Parking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY God !!! : )

I knew the course because I had done it last year and it was HOT HOT HOT BUT!!! I was prepared for it and that helped more than words can express because I knew the course and I knew they would have LOTS of ice-cold rags, ice-water, ice for my hat, ice-towel around my neck , and ice-to put in my shirt to keep my heart machine (EKG-internal loop device) coooool!!! Also I knew there would be two or three water falls to run through and boy oh boy do they help!!! YAY GOD, THE LIVING WATER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praising God for CK Sports moisture wicking socks cause I totally soaked my shoes in the water falls and pooring ice water over my head at each aid-station and YAY YAY YAY God NO BLISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very little need for Police Traffic control as most of the race is on the trails CAMPION TRAILS (UNDER the TREES lots of the race is tree cover!!!!! :) Thank you God for the shade with the temps in the 90ies :) )

The first two miles and last mile of the race is on the street right behind the Williams Square area and very little traffic uses that road anyway sooooo for me this is PERFECT because I feel awful when I am holding up traffic and you can see the people saying bad words when you run by :( makes me sad for bothering them

PERFECT POLICE VOLUNTEERS!!!! They looked HAPPY  :) and they even encouraged us!!!
Go Irving POLICE you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very few bikes on the trail and this is a real blessing to me personally cause after 10 miles when a person on a bike yells, on your left or on your right, I do not even know my left from my right at that time :) lol!

Signs for the bike riders to be careful could have been helpful and if signs had been posted the week before telling them to expect a crowd the next weekend I bet the bike riders would have waited to ride. I know as a bike rider when I know a race is on our trail I try to give the race the space :)

The aid stations were FULLY STOCKED with LOTS of water and power aid and TONS of people passing them out!!! AMAZING VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also a great tip...I wear a camel back and did not even need to refill it because my husband and daughter met me around mile 5 and again around mile 8 with bottle water :) It is an out and back course so my family gets to see me TWICE from the same spot!!! and they get to SIT in lawn chairs and ring bells and help other racers between the time they see me at mile 5 and then again at 8 :) The camel back also holds lots of Gu I passed out 5 of them to people who needed them and they were VERY thankful YAY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A great tip for the race would be to have at least one Gu station on the TOP of the turnaround little hill as I saw several people hit their wall at this point and they had no Gu.

In my camel back I also carry a Gu for every mile :), Vaseline in a little zippy bag - when my feet have a hot spot I STOP and put this on to prevent blisters, several tiny salt pkg (I use the one from the edamame bean pkg cause they are water proof :) (They are great for cramps) , Individual sunscreen pkgs, antiseptic wipes/ facial wipes (for bathroom breaks) :0, gum, drivers license, phone, emergency information, pain med, icy hot individual pkgs, and a few honey pkgs (Honey =Old fashion Gu's :) and of course ICE WATER!!!!!!!!

MY WILL NOT RACE WITHOUT favorites are a white washcloth to put ice in and put on top of my head and slip the hat over it, and a white cup towel size towel to WRAP ICE IN and put around my neck and I drop ICE into my shirt it is stopped (held in the shirt by my race shirt bar) - This ICE keeps my HEART : ) cool!!! Remember I have a machine in my heart :) I REFILL this ICE at each aid station. Takes only a few seconds when they are ready and let me scoop it out... it can take what seems FOREVER when they do not have ice in a bucket and they take FOREVER to personally scoop it out while talking with their friends :( . Sometimes I have to beg for ice but as soon as I show em the scar where my heart machine is implanted that give me some ice - PRAISE GOD for ICE and volunteers who give it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YaY God!!!

RACE TIP: If a race has a big trash can full of ICE and WATER ASK first!!! Most of them are for dipping your hats in and passing out ice towels or MY FAVOIRTE ICE SPONGES on HOT HOT HOT days like today but sometimes they are their water buckets they use to fill up the water cups :( ... anyway if they have a cap dipping bucket USE IT! You can run 2 miles in an ice cold hat and never feel the heat even with temps in the hundreds! Again, Praise God for ICE and volunteers who will give it to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YaY God!!!

My daughter and husband sit in lawn chairs and pass frozen bottle water that have thawed just a bit to runners... as you run and it melts you can sip ice cold water... doesn't get better than that :) and they LOVE to encourage people and ring bells :) I also often put these frozen water bottles in front and back of my running shirt to keep my temperature down... it sounds weird I know but it works and feel COOL!!!  and Praise God for people who ring bells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This place has TONS of places for FAMILIES to park and sit on the side in chairs with umbrella's and watch their DVD's on the computer and play their DSI's :) This course has THREE different half marathons a year on it so far and it is my FAVORITE half marathon course to run around the DFW area cause your family has such an easy time :)  Thank you God for helping our supportive families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish they would have a half marathon on it EVERY MONTH of the year cause I would run each one God willing !!!!! YaY God for awesome half marathon trails :) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay God!!!

The three different races on this course are the Hills and Heels in March (Sign up early for this one, it fills up fast) then the race I ran today The Wounded Warrior in June, and Hills and Heels and Him in September.

There were 1800 runners signed up today, not all showed up, as I think the heat scares them but I am 48 years old and have heart condition and if I can do it ANYONE can! They have water stations allllllllllllll over the place and like I said ice ice ice and water falls to go through and the best volunteers around. and get this I saw soldiers running the full half with 50lb back packs on so if that does not inspire you nothing will. I saw kids as young as 10 and adults over 70 finish this year and last! Temps were over 100 last year.

FAMILY FRIENDLY RACE! :) From the start of the race where the kids can play around the fountains and horse statues to the easy traffic flow so they can go to McDonalds and play and eat breakfast while mom or dad runs that first 30 min or so :) Then my family goes and parks at mile 5 of the course but there are TONS of places to park and watch!!! and once you find a good spot you get to see your racer TWICE!!! now that is cool!!!

Three of our daughters favorite things are bringing her chalk to write messages of encouragement on the side walk, making poster boards with rainbow messages of encouragement to put along the course and ringing bells! and boy oh boy does that encoruagement help all the runners !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tip : Ya got to get to the 5 mile spot a bit early to get the calk messages drawn before the runners come by :) Praise God for calk messages to encourage us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then after your family see's ya twice they can head to the finish line and if you are a slow finisher like me they will even let your child run into the finish with you for a photo finish! Doesn't get better than that!!!
Praise God for race photographers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the races are for good causes. The race today was for the wounded warrior fund. To be a part of helping, is ,well, it is better to give than receive and you feel!!! :) that when doing one of these races.

and then ON TOP of that, you receive stuff tooo a great sweat wicking running shirt and socks and an awesome medal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The race medals for this race as PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hat goes off  to the person who designs them!!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When the kids in uniform put that medal around your neck, well, let me just say, I didn't see many dry eyes. Then you can walk over to several booths that have each branch of the military, yep again the tears flow and flow from thankful hearts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God for each of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the kids they let you buy a COOL military coin medallion for $8.00 and your son or daughter will get something that looks a lot like mom's or dad's finisher medal and that makes them SUPER happy!!! :)

You can take a photo by a tank with wheels 7 feet tall... Yes I said WHEELS 7 feet tall! It makes an awesome photo There are soooo many photo places and things for the kids to learn and see!!!

and it is just AMAZING to role model to our kids how to show respect and thankfulness to the military who risk their lives for us every day! Let your kids them take pictures with, hug and shake hands with men and women from each branch of the military!!! You will ALL be in thankful tears :) Praise God!!!

A PERFECT RACE! A PERFECT DAY! Thank you for each and every min each and every volunteer gave to make this a PERFECT RACE! a very special memory for our whole family. YaY God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God bless America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ephesians 3:20-21

Family Bike Ride

First Chisholm Trail Family Bike Ride Day 5-6-2011 2:00 -4:00 p.m.


2 hour ride = +9 Weight Watchers Activity Points

After bike ride - "On the Border" Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Dinner and chips 57 Points!

Yes it was worth the activity and allll my extra points

We had a late breakfast so I only used 11 points for breakfast and lunch.

Made a two egg omelet so I had energy for the 10 mile bike ride :)

The new trail we tried was AWESOME! Chisholm Trail in Plano is a nice Family Trail.

Wide paved Trail, hardly any people were on the trail and only a few cars on the three places we had to cross neighborhood street traffic. Lovely Neighborhoods to look at and the trail is beside a creek so the woods were LOVELY and it was GREAT to see and be a part of God's Beautiful World!!!

Looking forward to the next family bike ride day. and.... the meal after it :)

To Run a Half Marathon Every Month

Goal 2011 Run a Half Marathon Every Month


I have this goal of running a Half Marathon every month this year.

So January 29th God let me run and walk the "Texas Half" in Dallas - That one hurt

On February 19th God let me run and walk the "Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon" - more hills OUCH!

March I counted the Ft. Worth Cow Town Marathon for the March marathon. I tried to run the Ultra 50K but only made it to mile 21! It was on the 27 of February only a couple days before March and so well I counted it as my March half Marathon. :) Yes that one hurt but I am STILL MAD at myself for not finishing cause I know I could have! I ALMOST ran the Dallas Rock and Roll but I was at conference and didn't run it.

Well , April rolled around and I got sick the day of the half I planned to run (The Lone Star 70.3) It is UNFINISHED BUSINESS and God willing I will get to finish that race next year. I'm still mad at myself for not at least trying to finish the swim in that triathlon! The other half I really wanted to run in April was the "Hills and Heels Half Marathon". I thought I would be too sore from the Lone Star 70.3 so waited to long to enter and it sold out (I personally - Love the "Hills and Heels Half Marathon" so I was really sad when I didn't get to run it). I sure didn't want the Dream to die four months into the goal soooo.... on the last day of April...

God gave me the idea to make my own Half Marathon... It is the HOPE Marathon.

" Heavenly Opportunities for People Everyone!" To date it is my Favorite Half ever and... NO PAIN!

The fee to register is to give something to a charity of your choice and bring a stuffed animal if you have one to donate to the local fire department to help children who are in an emergency.

So it started at 9:30 a.m. AAAAHHHHH a nice time to start. The course was outside my front door. AAAAHHHH a nice place to run. Our neighborhood has a perfect one mile loop so I repeated it 13 times.

AAAAHHHH the convince of my own nice clean restroom to use. and the best part of all I could check on my 9 year old daughter every few miles. :)

Had a ball.... The weather was PERFECT. Temp in the 70's and 80's cloud covered and shaded almost the whole way!  My husband walked/ran the last three miles with me.  AAAAAAHHHHH such a happy memory!!! Thank you God.    The medal... My daughter made me a picture and my husband bought me a necklace with a running shoe on it.  My daughter added her little silver cross to the necklace Priceless!

First week at Weight Watchers. Ate 89 points on Easter still lost 6 Pounds Yay GOD!

I call it a miracle.


This was my first week and yes I took my shoes off to weigh in this time so that might have been 2 of the pounds lol!!!

but that still leaves 4 that were lost... AMAZING!!! YAY GOD!!!



So the goal was to TRACK POINTS... I did it on computer :) Made the goal!!!

Oh my Oh my I was shocked at how many points I ate!!!! :(

and so thankful for the exercise points to work them off!!!!!!!!!!!!

thankful for the 49 extra points toooo.

Ate out twice and still lost weight... wow it was a miracle.

Even ate the chips at the Mexican Food place...



God has helped me loose 100 pounds in two years saying this prayer...

"God in your Mighty Power please help me have the desire to eat what you want me to and exercise the way you want me too!"



Then a couple months ago I started putting pounds back on and I was like NO NO NO OH NO not again. I have yoy yoy lost weight before and I sooooooooooooo did not want to do this again. so I prayed for BALANCE and also a place to encourage others and my sister said, "You need to go back to weight watchers! 20 years ago you became a lifetime member and inspired so many people!" Go back and become a leader after you loose that LAST 45 pounds and KEEP IT OFF!!!



Walking through that door was HARD... Facing the scale was HARD... Sitting in the meeting and wondering if people were judging me was HARD... even thinking about learning the program AGAIN was HARD but the funny thing was all those fears were releaved within mins of walking in. The price was reasonable, facing the scale was a relief actually, the people were NICE, and the program was honestly easier to figure out than ever before! The points tracker was AWESOME! NOW IF they would only invent a way to balance my check book with as much fun as the points tracker is ..... that would be another miracle.... lol :)



I'm HOME :) I feel I am at home with the community and look forward to learning, growing and encouragin each other with my weight watchers family :)

First Ironman 70.3 Sick and Scared

Thank you God for inspiration to pick me up when I fall!!! So I have not written in four weeks....

We lost three dear friends. Traveled and Traveled to funerals. I am emotionally exhausted. My mom passed this last June - this is our first Easter without her. I miss her!!!

Physically I feel LOST. We made it to the Ironman 70.3 Galveston was more beautiful than I expected and we had a wonderful time together as a family and with friends that surprised us there; even though I got sick with a stomach bug the night before the race, Faith caught the bug a few days later and then John had it too. I felt too weak to compete but could not stay in the hotel room... Had a BALL cheering on the TEAM! Had a BALL cheering on everyone!!! God even let me SEE one of the fast ladies run! Catriona Morrison was a blur as she ran under the bridge my little girl and I were standing on ringing the bells for the runners! (If I had raced I would never have gotten to see that or experience the race as a cheerleader with my daughter!) Thank you God for unexpected gifts like this :) I also saw the many, many, many families cheering on their dad's, mom's, brother's, sister's and friends. I heard more languages than I ever dreamed possible as people were there from allllllllllllllllllll over the world. I saw the race from the perspective of the family and see it is something THEY deserve a medal for too :) Waiting for 5 to 8 hours on a dear loved one in PAIN is hard!!!

I am and was disappointed that I didn't make myself at least do the swim but I tried to just be happy and see the bright side but ya know what? if I am not honest with myself I cannot move on and not moving on is making me depressed, frustrated and experience an emotion I am not comfortable with and seldom feel... angry!. There is a ride a six flags over Texas called the "The Big Spin" As some of you know I am SCARED of fast rides and this one describes my emotions... Up, down, pushed side to side, out of control, spinning and then repeat. At several points I just wanted off the Ironman 70.3 ride and to go home and sit on the couch and eat ice cream and forget I have a heart condition and pretend what I eat and if I exercise, well it really does not matter!!! I wanted to give up this dream of doing the half Ironman and Ironman... When I went to sleep that night I thought good.... this is OVER maybe this crazy idea will go away now!!! I mean I get tired of people asking WHY? do you want to do this and hearing them tell me NOT TO DO IT. or You CAN'T DO IT! I am a pleaser at heart and when I think someone does not approve of what I am doing I try to stop. so when I got sick I thought ok let it GO SUSAN... just do water-aerobics, run some, doing half marathons is ok but let go of the full ones and the bike that still scares you and just move ON... but when I woke up I couldn't do that... It is like it calls me... like it is something I HAVE TO DO!!! so the part of me that knows this.... wants to find a race and just get it over with like a tooth that needs to be pulled - just pull it!!! :) But if I am honest with myself I know that I am at a cross roads... do I push past this fear set another goal and not give up, do I shrink back keep pleasing everyone else and living for what I THINK people WANT me to do, do I just give up or do I TRUST and OBEY God and the call He is calling me to? Do I REALLY believe "All things are possible?"

I read an article tonight "The Kona Journey" by Catriona Morrison 2009 2010 "Two Ironman World Championships: both plagued with illness and followed by "What ifs," "Maybes," "Should haves," "would have" and "Could haves." Cat and I are worlds apart in athletic ability, age and sponsors :) but a few days ago I did not even know who she was and yet God let our paths cross and tonight I read this article and it helps me see.... old - young - athlete - survivor - we are allllll on a JOURNEY and God willing we all want to finish STRONG! To God be the Glory!!!

I tried to register for my favorite half marathon tonight. I have told hundreds of people about this Hills and Heels marathon and wear my race shirt almost daily! In a ironic way I probably helped it fill up and now it is sold OUT. I'm Out again... Quit on the CowTown Ultra - Sick on the Ironman 70.3 to late for the Hills and Heels BUT..... I also read this tonight... about the race director

"Throughout this event's journey, Paula's personal journey is equally amazing – diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on April 1, 1999, Female winner of a 12 hour event (50+ miles), 1 ultra marathon, 18 marathons, 35+ half marathons, a duathalon and other events, including the Dallas Avon 3 Day Walk and the MS 150 bike ride. Paula started a running streak on July 1, 2009 and has run at least one mile each day and 100+ miles each month. Paula achieved her goal of a sub 5 hour marathon with a 4:56 finish time at The Cowtown Marathon in February 2010." More HOPE..... Thank you God for HOPE and DREAMS and PASSION and most of all for your gift of salvation.... note to self SUSN.... any IS possible Susan... BE INSPIRED!!!

The agony of de feet!

For this week's update I am sending out the thank you note I wrote to the volunteers at the race...

If you are not too busy and/or have ever wondered about what it is like along the race you might find it a good read... (a bit long, but then you've seen my posts before, so no surprise there   :) 
Not asking for donations this week - just giving God Glory and Praising Him for the answered prayers! 

Thank you!  Cow town marathon staff and volunteers,

A special memory I’ll never forget was the kind and
caring military officers you used to start the race…

They were AWESOME!  They talked to us, laughed with us
and most of all made us feel safe J

I was in the last corral. I should note that we are not racers
in the last corral ya know… we are there to obey the rules and to finish… we
are not in it to win it but most of us  if not all of us have a story of
something we are trying to Endure… (Endurance Race J) for me it is a heart condition… running gives me hope and strength J  I often finish last and it is ironic that finishing last STILL somehow gives me strength and hope!   My mom passed to Heaven unexpected to us 9 months ago and the
running has helped me process the earthly loss and run off the sadness J

( For those of you who don't know what a corral is ---it's like in the old westerns where they put the cattle in pens.  Yep, just like that, real corrals, and like cattle, they divide the racers in them to
keep people safe, have an orderly start and keep people from getting trampled...) this race had 20,000 runners.

Other special things you did at the race that were special
to our family were you – let my little 8 year girl, Faith  pass out
water – Faith LOVED IT!!! She loved the shirt you gave her and the way you
made her feel important… Honestly in all the races I have run the kids are
soooooooooooooo endearing! J
To see a child volunteer is inspiring!  When a girl scout or boy scout
or ANY child passes you water with a smile – I mean, it just makes your
day J  Our
little girl also enjoyed helping the tired runners run in… Faith
would run to them and run WITH them to the water station over and over… my
husband volunteered too and he said when Faith ran to help the tired runners it
brought tears to his eyes and tears to many of the eyes of the people she
helped… YOU PROVIDED a way for her to SHOW LOVE!  Thank you! She
also LOVED seeing the motorcycle police officers!  What a
wonderful place for her to see Officers in their service/protection role!
To see them as the GOOD GUYS they are! J

I tried to run the Ultra( that’s a full marathon… and keep
going another 5 miles, or 31 miles overall)... I have finished many half
marathons(13.1 miles) and 3 full ones(26.2 miles) but for some reason I could
not sleep the night before the race and only got 3 hours sleep :( but I still
tried to run!  The police officers were AWESOME!  They
followed behind me and another runner who was determined to finish.  At
mile 21 the pain was too much for me and I'm sad to say I gave up.  I assured
the officers following me that my husband would come get me and they continued
to follow Steve the friend I made that was still IN the race.  I sat on a
park bench and began to cry in disappointment and out pops this kind officer
with sweet words of encouragement.  He waited with me for like 15 min
until my husband and daughter found me... on top of that another lady officer
joined him after about 5 min and also shared kind words with me... I
thought the officers would feel like (well at least one more is off the roads
so we can go home now) but I learned something... THEY LOVE US!  THEY
REALLY CARE!!! THEY REALLY WANT TO HELP US IN ANY WAY THEY CAN! 

Yesterday the tender care of the volunteers/military
officers and police officer was HEAVEN SENT!!! Ephesians 3:20-21

Two more angels that touched me were

*The medical students who bandaged my blisters
and were there to keep us safe.  I have an internal loop device(sort of an
implanted heart monitor) in my chest and your medical student noticed it and
gave me kind words of wisdom J

*The lady who decorated the port-o-potty by her house
with the rug in front, PLENTY of toilet paper J,
flowers, butterflies, course map of YOU are HERE, the basket of hand wipes, bio
o freeze samples  (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU) they helped
soooooooooooooo much!!! band aids, Vaseline for our feet , I mean EVERYTHING
was in there…  It’s all in the details and she knew about the details…
AMAZING!  I praise God for you!!!

On a side note…I did not even know to ask for someone to
help me with my blisters until the last marathon – it was a Rock and Roll
marathon and they have people in the middle of the street with Vaseline on
popsicle sticks passing them out! BRILIANT!  I mean I don’t think
about the blisters until it is too late (see photo below)  – they passed
them out at mile 7 and 17 and at 7 It made me think YEP I need it and I fixed
em then at 17 I was thinking yep that would be good to put on again and that
was

the FIRST race I did not get a blister on or lose a toe nail J

They also pass out SALT… packets… and you know that
REALLY helped the cramps… mile 18 I think they were there passing out salt…

Mile 20…. The medics were calling people out…. Hey come
over here and let us wrap that knee so you can keep going… J Their medics were IN the road at
hum the 4^th hour J
you had to run past and around them – it made you do a gut check --- do I
neeeed these guys… J   They
were sooooooooooooo nice…. They had lawn chairs for folks to sit in and wrapped
knees, took blood pressures and it made the DIFFERNCE for at least TWO people I
saw… in the brief seconds it took me to pass them I could tell they were a
tent of angels hard at work J
You know after mile 20, for me at least, I am not thinking real straight… I am
thinking FINISH, FINISH, FINISH not … what do I NEED to do to take care of my
body… THEY did the thinking for folks… they didn’t call me out so I thought
hum, yes I’m tired, I'm hurting a bit  but I’m not limping and I’m ok and
thank you thank you thank you Jesus they are helping those that neeeeed it… It
helped me AND the ones that they were putting ice on knees and so
on…    

Anyway that is just my interesting observations… interesting
to me I hope they were to you…

Oh also your water stations were AWESOME, AWESOME,
AWESOME!!!! You guys stayed until the last of us came through… It was
sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice….I mean you even had a dozen or so
cups of water and power aide on the table when we, the last two came through
so, so kind of you!  … that was sooooooooooooooooooooo kind… I mean we
were the last two running and you did not give up on us…. AMAZING LOVE, AMAZING
LOVE!!!!   In one marathon I was in, the water stations left and left
us two water bottles on the side of the street and they  went home. I felt
like I was being swept up with the trash that was being swept up on the
streets... it was sad. You made us feel loved!!!  

Oh did you know some races are letting us old, slow,
folks that are not in it to win it but in it to endure it and find hope and
strength along the way start early… like at 6:00a.m. and 5:00a.m. – I heard
it goes something like this...

Our chip timers start the time. We stay out the way of the
fast guys and honestly it would be  sooooooooooooooooo amazing to hear the
fast runners breath as they pass us!  Their Breath of health would spills
out on us and helps us finish!  There are always a few officers that are
early and WE don’t mind waiting for the traffic lights… 2 min is not a big
thing to us J  we are 15 min milers
so we would only get 4 to 8 miles ahead depending on if you let us start at
6:00 or 5:00a.m. but it helps us finish and get off the road when the
volunteers are tired and ready to go home  J
The first water stations are setting up as we go by and we are fine we bring
our own water J It’s a blessing….
the pack… or, I call it the (FLOCK of geese) J would  hit us about mile 6 or so and honestly LIKE
geese in flight they carry us and we speed up J yay God!!!

Oh I just have to tell you about “Kool N Fit”!   In the marathon in Kauai they had these two
stations that had dozens of volunteers with BIG BUG Sprayers FULL of Kool n Fit!  The company that made the product  donated the supplies anyway it was awesome!!!! We had to run up a mountain 5,000 feet elevation J at the base
of the hill and the top of the hill coming down they offered to spray our legs,
back whatever we wanted…It is like spray on bio o freeze!!! It is AWESOME!
Anyway you guys neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed them to come volunteer your race for the
base of a couple of your hills J  I mean I can’t wait to go back to
Kauai and it was a harder course than yours but felt easier J… I think the
Kool n Fit helped a lot!!! :O on a side note you could let em spray our feet
before we go over the cobble stone at the ft worth stock yards toooo J  the
stock yards was a GREAT view and will make awesome photos but ouch!!! It was
worth it J
don’t get me wrong – don’t change the course that was FUN to run through J and the hill
up to the capital was FUN too don’t change the course just help us with the
pain J
and most of all hills or valleys... in life or on a marathon - God is with
us!!! Amen :)

Ephesians
3:20-21 

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

God bless each of you and may you be refreshed for
allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
you did!!!

Love in Christ, Susan Mathis  

Thank you John and Susan.... You are a great team member and
I praise God for your friendship, love and prayers.  May God bless you in
your hills, and valleys.... Win or Loose... First or Last... God is with us!!!!

Feb 23rd Weekly Prayer and Praise Report

Weekly Prayer and Praise Report

Wow, you are great inspiration! Within minutes of sending out e-mails to you last week, Faith and I were out the door and ran 5 miles that day! As you can see from the picture, she rollerblades beside me.  One mile we did with both dogs. Now that is agility training! 

We Praise God on High for your prayers! They are the greatest gift in the world. Thank you for praying for my honored hero, Ethan(Age 5), and the other children, families and friends touched by this horrible disease. We are all working together as a team to help, and we Praise God so many of you gave us high fives last week; YAY God! 

So, the weekly update continues…

This week brought confidence that God in me CAN finish this race! After the half marathon Saturday, I was tired - very tired but hopeful! For those who prayed for me, Hugs to you and thank you for your prayers and your giving!
Only 6 more swim, bike, and run classes before my Ironman 70.3 mile race - Can that be true WOW!? Is the race really that close! WOW!

I signed up for an Ultra Marathon, 31 miles is this coming Sunday! 5 days away! Yes, I'm scared. Scared that I do not have the endurance; Scared that it will hurt! And that I will not finish in the official time limit! But I am also hopeful! All things are possible with God! I hope He has his track shoes on this weekend, cause I think I need Him to carry me!
As to my FUNraising… Only 25 days left to raise the other 56% of the goal! Yes I'm trusting God!

58 days and counting. On April 10, I will, God Willing, run an Ironman 70.3 race. In case you were wondering, that’s a 1.2 mile swim in the ocean, followed by a 56 mile bike race, followed by a 13.1 mile run. Why, you may ask yourself? I do it for God’s Glory. God is glorified, because this is beyond my ability. I can ONLY do it through Him. I also do this to raise money for the fight against cancer. Team in Training is part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. They raise money to fight blood cancer, and all donations are tax deductable. It gets to me when I hear the stories of the kids that are fighting for their lives, and they know these huge names of their disease. Kids shouldn’t know those words. They should be playing and having fun, instead, some are learning about Lymphoma, Blastoma, Carcinoma, and many others. So, join me in working to eliminate this awful disease. Your donation helps fund research, medicine, and care for those who have cancer. No amount is too small (or too large).

You can donate on line at this link, or if you prefer, you can send your check to:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
c/o Susan Mathis
5402 N. Briar Ridge Circle
McKinney, TX 75070

"Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God, I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10
I am praying that you feel God with you, strengthen you, and helping you today!

Finally, I covet your prayers. Will you pray for creative ways to raise the rest of the money. I am starting a new decorating and design business. (DesignDoctor247) For those who are interested, I will encourage and offer suggestions as they decorate a room in their home. If you need help making decisions about design, I work for donations!

Will you pray for us to have a happy family day at the ultra marathon next Saturday, for as little pain a possible and for us to encourage others and be encouraged in the Lord.

Hi! Everyone

We are on the countdown now.

8 more swim, bike, and run classes

14 days until the next half Marathon

22 days until the next Ultra Marathon, 31 miles! Yes I'm scared!

and only 47 days left to raise the other 75% of the goal! Yes I'm trusting God!

64 days until God in me will swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles back to back to raise money for the fight against cancer! Yes I know ONLY God in me can accomplish this.

Praying for a corporate sponsor if God ever calls me to do this again :)

"Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God, I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Praying you feel God with you, strengthen you, and helping you today!

1-29-2011 Texas Half Marathon

Texas Half Marathon - White Rock Lake Dallas, TX 1-29-2011
"The Zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this" (Isaiah 37:32) We get tired. Who gives strength? The Lord Almighty
Favorite part of race - The nap I am going to take in a few minutes! The icy hot patches! Oh and the meal at OutBack Steak house with family after the race Yummy Yummy Thank you God! Also Thankful John and Faith ran the 10K and everyone in the race was safe! God bless the many volunteers!
Had a sore throat and only 4 hours sleep - almost didn't go to race. Thankful for a supportive family who encouraged me and got me there. Thankful to friends and family who prayed me through it.
Temp - started in the 50ies ended in the 70ies beautiful clear sunny day
Port-O-Potties steps from where we parked - no lines :) on the race plenty of port-o-potties- One at the first mile! No line and I was thankful because I had to go again!!! :)
Traffic - I'm thankful for the traffic! We arrived at 6:00 a.m. which turned out to be a perfect time. The parking lots filled within minutes. Once started, I'm thankful for the fuel. I took two "Gu's" (for those of you who don't run marathons, they are these little slimy packets of energy. Some of them even taste... ok). Anyway, I took two... which lasted till I got to mile 4 or so... arrgggghhhh!!! What was I thinking. I'm already out, and still need one for every 30 min. or so after! The race gave half cups of m&m's at mile 8. Nice. After finally dragging my bootie across the finish line, they had bagels and bananas there. That was good... But I want MEAT! (Hence... Outback :)
Spectators/ sings/ bells and noise makers = few/no signs :(/no noise makers - I need!!! them :)
Hazards - TONS of bikers... yelling on your left on your right - by mile 11 I did not know my left from my right, 5 hills or so, a wooden bridge, a mile or so of rough road surface. Finish line UP HILL with no crowd to cheer you on.
Blessings - Lots of volunteers to work the water stations, wonderful ROTC students passed out medals, my husband and daughter came with me and ran the 10K
Water Stations - had plenty of water and Gatorade - spaced well until mile 6 then got sparse. Had to stop at water fountain twice but Praise God for the water fountains :)
Shirt - Blue with a large Texas on it - sweat wicking material **** four star see picture attached
Medal - Red Texas on a silver square with the date ****four star see picture attached
Crowd - I estimate 500 for the half marathon - nice calm non competitive start in my opinion
Friendly, encouraging group of runners and volunteers - over 1,000 signed up in both events

Favorite memories - talk to a guy the first 6 miles who is training to run the marathon in Greece. Sounds so fun!!! 12 min mile pace for the first 6 miles! That's good for me. Mile 7 almost gave up- thighs began to cramp/heart rate 217!/and ran out of water - Team in training mentor shared his water with me :) Called my husband and said I am about to give up - this is my first time in 7 half marathons and 3 full marathons to call and say I was giving up... I joked and said come get me and He said, "No! Later you will be mad if I do!" He was right of course and glad he didn't but just talking to him and knowing he was praying helped so much!!! Then met two teachers from Oklahoma and ran the next 5 with them. They were fun and funny and time passed quickly - Thank you Jesus... Last two miles saw a lady with GOD on her back and ALL things are possible with on the front of her shirt, she was struggling so I stopped and told her I had Victory in Jesus on my back and Ephesians 3:20-21 on my front and we could finish the race together :) she was encouraged and started to run again. She thanked me over and over - I told her it was God helping her not me :) Played my Christian Music on the Iphone out loud from mile 8 to 13.1 Tons of people said thanks for the inspiring music. My buddy from the first 6 miles found me at the end of the race! In my mind this was the childhood buddy I told you about in the last blog who had a very hard week and we were running together!!! I had no idea I had helped him but he told me several times thanks for helping him with those first 6 miles :) I told him it was God not me... As I ran I saw a lady who looked familiar and sure enough she found me at the end of the race and said she remembered running Kauai with me... what a small world we live in :) Her name is Cheryl and she said she has done the Cow Town Ultra 3!!! times and would look for me and help me finish that race next month... Thank you - Thank you - Jesus when you call us tooooo something you REALLY do bring us through it. To God be the GLORY Great things HE did!!!!
Would I race it again? Yep in a couple hours after this nap, God willing :)

IDEA for a new marathon concept... Race to the Restaurant!!!
So here is the concept:
Instead of T-shirts you get a FREE meal at one of 7 or so Restaurants along a running path... you know the string that always show up together on the freeways... OUTBACK, Chilies, Olive Garden, Fuddruckers, Chinese, and on and on... So you run 13 :) Hit the restaurant and have a nice meal and rest for an hour :) Then get back out there and run the second half!!! Good idea right??? After that meal and rest I know I could have run 13 more... ok so maybe I am delirious... I really would have needed a nap tooooo and what would the cut off time have to be extended toooo hum.... 8:00 to noon for the first half... 1:00 to 5:00 for the second half... anyone want to plan a race like this with me... I bet we would do wellll!!!! The restaurants would donate the food for free advertisement :) Hey now we can give the T-shirts toooo God bless and good night...
If this crazy little race review inspired you to sign up for Team in Training to raise money for cancer will you tell them Susan sent ya??? It helps with my fund raising goal that I have to make.
If this crazy little race review inspired you to sign up for a race will you consider donating $10.00 To the attached link... if ya just had fun reading it how about $5.00 --- Most of all have a blessed day :) God is good!

The Towel now wraps around me!
Jan 26, 2011 by Susan Middleton-Mathis
Today I am Praising God that the towel now wraps around me! Took TWO years to feel brave enough to take off my clothes in the gym shower and wrap the towel around me to get to the dressing room. I would shower in my swim suite and dry off with the suite still on and then wrap the towel around me - swim suite and all. It's a little thing but it means a lot. If YOU are in this place today... know that you are not alone - I was there and most of God is there... Is it doable yes... You can DO IT! Believe and Achieve!
Praising God for prayers that got me off the couch, into exercising and eating better just two short years ago when I found out I had a heart condition. Yep this is me at 240lbs. God is amazing! He in me has lost 90 lbs - God help me keep praying "Give me the desire to eat what you want me to Lord and to exercise in the way you want me to Lord" To God be the Glory - Great things HE did!!! He loves to help us all :) YAY GOD! He did it in me and He can do it in you!

Praising God I did NOT have to have breast reduction surgery
they DID reduce
God did it the natural way with diet and exercise
This is how it all started - A few years ago I was so frustrated.
My whole body hurt, my back, my feet, you name it - it hurt.
I was depressed and upset with myself!
I would try to exercise and eat right only to fall apart in hours or even minutes of waking up! I had gotten so large to walk, let alone run HURT! so I almost gave up... I laid on the closest floor and began to cry out to God!


I thought, ok, I am going to go ask for a breast reduction cause I just can't walk, let alone run with this weight on me and I am in pain all the time. (In high school I had lost weight by running so I knew it was possible the only other thing I remember that worked was aerobics class and I was just toooo big to enjoy jumping around in aerobics class or running and it was ALL I knew)


so off I went to my doctor! She said she would give me a referral for a breast reduction and thought that it was a good idea. I asked if I lost the weight would the breasts reduce themselves. She said she didn't believe so because the breast weight came on after childbirth. So, I agreed the breast reduction was the only thing to do.


She said she had to do an EKG, just as a precaution, before making the referral. To the SOCK of both of us it came back abnormal!!


The next thing I knew I was in a cardiologist office having an exam. He said I was in NO SHAPE to have a surgery of any kind and that I had a weak heart - cardiomyopathy.
In more despair than ever before I cried out to God again- what now God!?!
He had my full attention now!
I asked a friend how she lost her weight? "She said, "I pray every day, God give me the desire to eat what you want me to and the desire to exercise in the way you want me to!" I started doing that.

Back then I did not think we had money for a gym and if I am totally honest didn't feel WORTHY of a gym membership but knew I HAD to do something!!! So for the next month I took the FREE 7 day pass at four different gyms.


God let me find water aerobics and I felt LIGHT for the first time in years and years in the water. I ENJOYED the exercise. I was tired don't get me wrong. so tired I couldn't wait to get home for a nap but I looked forward to the classes. Each day I was HAPPY after I did water aerobics and slowly, slowly, noticed my body getting stronger and the weight came off - VERY SLOWLY but it came off!


and now I believed I HAD NO CHOICE but to eat right so started the heart healthy diet. My husband saw me sticking to the workouts and diet! One day he said we would make joining the gym work. So I joined Lifetime Fitness and for almost two years now I have been working out 4 to 7 days a week. All Praise to God on High!!!


Didn't have the breast reduction surgery but they DID reduce... God did it the natural way, with diet and exercise... Many days I wanted to give up - didn't see progress but it took years to put the weight on and would take years to get it off. To God be the glory for answering my prayers - not the way I expected Him too but HE DID answer. He will answer yours toooo :) "Comfort, yes comfort my people, says your God." Isaiah 40:1 Help us God find comfort in your word and not food or other things!

Honored Hero's Team in Training 70.3 Triathlon

Ethan Tate

On January 14, 2010, Ethan, 5 years old at the time, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. It was a complete shock for all who know him and his family! Prayers and support began pouring in immediately from friends, family, his teachers, his school, his church, and even from perfect strangers! These prayers have helped us to be reminded of how blessed we truly are that Ethan's prognosis is good, that he is in remission, and that God is here with us through each and every step of the way. Ethan has learned more in these past few months about doctors, hospitals, chemo, side effects, transfusions, and procedures than many adults will ever learn in a lifetime. But most importantly, he has learned that faith in God can get him through anything! He is the strongest, most courageous little man I have ever known! Although his life is anything but normal for a 6 year old, we are grateful for every phase of his treatment that he completes, for every hair on his head that is beginning to grow back, for every hour at school he feels like attending, for every donor who has made his blood & platelets transfusions possible, and for every mile that is conquered by Team in Training members who have made the research possible to find a cure for Ethan's condition.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Meza

Name - George Meza
Age - 55
Diagnosis - Follicular B Cell Lymphoma

I have been participating in TNT events since 2005. I have completed numerous Cycling Century rides, a half marathon, and I am currently training to participate in a TNT Half Ironman. I have held the positions of Participant, Mentor, Captain, and I am currently a TNT Cycling Coach. I was diagnosed in August of 2009 with Stage 4 Follicular B Cell Lymphoma (a treatable but not curable form of blood cancer). During 2009 I underwent intensive chemotherapy and during January 2010 I was re-staged as in Remission. Currently, I am undergoing maintenance chemotherapy, which will prolong the time before the illness returns.

The Roller Coaster Ride 8-2-2010

August 1, 2010 The Roller Coaster Ride

"You know me. I do NOT like Roller Coasters! I AVOID them. I wait for YOU at the end of ride. The few times you have gotten me on the silly things I got sick to my stomach and well, it was NOT FUN! Well some of the dips were fun but I NEVER learned to RELAX and TRUST GOD and ENJOY THE RIDE. Today I Thank TEAM IN TRAINING cause I AM On A ROLLER COASTER RIDE -TRAINING with them and I AM LEARNING to RELAX and TRUST GOD and ENJOY THE CRAZY UPs and DOWN's of the RIDE OF LIFE!" Susan talking to her family

I'm on a roller coaster ride of EMOTIONS as I train to COMPLETE (Not compete but to COMPLETE :) God willing) this Triathlon I signed up for to raise money for children, mom's and dad's and their families who are in the battle of their lives against cancer.

So if you DARE hop on the ride with me. Buckle up ... Breath - Pray - repeat.... Breath - Pray - repeat....

CLICK CLICK CLICK here we go up the first tall tall hill....

Click Last Dec. A sweet TEAM in Training person came along side of me and helped me make a dream come true. Prayer "Thank you God - I do not know anything about this group of people all dressed in PURPLE at the races but if you want me to know more, teach me." Butterflies in my stomach

Click Click Click - Jan Feb March April Keep seeing these people dressed in PURPLE at the races and CAN'T GET THEM OUT OF MY HEAD. Prayer - "God are you calling me to be a part of this team?"

Click May Looked up TEAM IN TRAINING on the web. Found an information meeting. butterflies return to my stomach

Click May 11th Went to information meeting with my family. Cried through the entire meeting.

Prayer "I'm scared God. I feel your call. I want to trust you. I know I CAN'T do this thing BUT YOU CAN. God I am awful at fund raising - I am awful at asking ANYONE for help, I am awful at trusting you. but I am willing to try.... I do not even have a bike, God." Feel like I can't breathe!

Click May 16 went to niece Whintey's graduation from A&M. I did not know this would be the last time I would see my mom alive or feel her arms hug me or hear her words encourage me. Tears of Joy for Whitney. Tears of sadness as I think I will never talk to mom again on this earth! Still God is my HOPE!

Click May 18 -20 Our families best friend took us on a trip to Disney Land. I still can't believe that trip was real but I know it was. Thank you God what a dream come true and a GIFT FROM YOU GOD! Rode the Winney the Pooh ride 18 times with our 8 year old and LOVED God more each time.

Click May23 my husband surprised me and bought the bike and everything I would need to ride in the race. JOY JOY JOY in the LORD Tears of JOY!

Click Went to eye doctor and got prescription glasses and sunglasses - thank you for the glasses God and thank you that the doctor has run the Triathlon in Kona - God encouraged me today and gave me HOPE through her. Tears of HOPE and JOY.

DOWN DOWN DOWN the lowest I have ever been... My mom went to see Jesus June 4th! TOTALLY unexpected to us but of course TOTALLY expected by God. Her favorite song was "Count your blessings and she told me alllllll the time to count my blessings" so while I am spinning alll around on the roller coaster not really going up or down - just spinning and spinning - I will count my blessings in memory of mom. Tears of every emotion!!!!!!! I am in shock!

I just want to hold my bible to my chest. My heart is broken and hurting. My bible is not with me. My sweet husband and daughter are having it recovered for mother's day. I run to the bible I have used in its place. Run to ME and I will RESCUE you, says the LORD - I RUN AS FAST AS I CAN AND JUMP INTO HIS ARMS! HE HOLDS ME and COMFORTS me with His word! Thank you God.

Seven Blessings....

one: My mom gave me unconditional love. Some search a lifetime for this unconditional love - I had it my whole life. Thank you God and all Praise and Honor and Glory to you on High.

two: My mom was my Hero. She loved Jesus as her Lord and Savior and Loved her neighbor as herself. What a role model and witness. She showed me HOW to serve as she served as the craft lady a vacation Bible School, teen kids, and call for help. Thank you God for letting me see You in my mom!

three: I saw my mom VERY HAPPY many times. Her eyes sparkled when she played tennis. As a child I saw my mom's eyes sparkle :) Thank you God I saw my mom use her gift from You! May we all use our gifts from You to bless others.

four: Mom loved all her grandchildren and got to see each of them and spend time with each of them. Thank you God and if it is your will may I get to be as kind of a grandmother as she was.

five: Mom told me many many times that she prayed she would never have to stay in a hospital or nursing home - this prayer was answered. Thank you God for answered prayers. Glory to You!

six: Mom told me many many times she prayed to pass to Heaven in her sleep- this prayer was answered. All Praise to You God on High - Please be with dad each day of the rest of his life of service to you! Show us all what You want us to learn and how You want us to change - Forgive us and bless us.

seven: GOD IS LOVE - the LOVE mom shared with me was His LOVE and HE PROMISES He will NEVER LEAVE us or forsake us and God keeps His promises. Her LOVE - HIS LOVE will ALWAYS be with me. Praise God for TRUTH!

I feel the prayers of friends, family and even strangers --- I still WANT OFF THIS RIDE but I am buckled in and I am in training and MOST OF ALL I WANT TO TRUST GOD AND FINISH THE RACE HE HAS SET BEFORE ME AND LEARN TO RELAX AND LET GO AND LET GOD! :) God I still miss her soooo much please help me.

I see hill number two in the distance - it is approaching toooo quickly. Breath pray repeat Breath pray repeat Breath pray repeat Breath Pray repeat Breath Pray repeat Breath Pray repeat.

Click June Keep falling off the bike. It hurts. Did not even know they had bikes with shoes that lock into the pedals or bikes with THIS MANY GEARS. Honestly scared of this bike. God help me...

Click Every Monday Team in Training has a swim class for us. I thought I could swim - I had no idea how hard it would be to swim with people allllllllllllll around you and the waves they make that splash into your face. and now they are telling me to swim with my arms and not use my legs because you save your legs for the rest of the race. you are kidding right? They tell us to get in the lane we THINK we fit in. From left to right there are 7 lanes. The far right is people who do not know how to swim - Yes they teach you how to swim :) I have always LOVED swimming and thought I was good at it. I get in the next to the last lane on the far left side. and well am humbled :) I am moved kindly to the lane next to the non swimmers.

Click June Ran the entire wounded warrior race beside an amazing lady in her 60ies. I told her I always dreamed of running with my mom. Today she was like a mom to me and it was an honor to run beside her. God gave me HOPE and filled me with JOY in the middle of my pain. He is amazing and surprising!

Click June 22 Kicked out of Spin class for talking. Thankful God has provided a bike spinner at home. It hurt but I am learning to not worry about stuff like this and look for God's blessing even in the pain.

Click June 14-16 my neighbor and good good friend who was like a mom away from home to me is moving... She was in the room with me when I gave birth to our daughter Faith. She has prayed with me and for me. I help her clean and pack - I smile during the day and cry at night. I don't understand God - But I am learning to TRUST YOU MORE.

Click our two nephews and their dad came to visit us. They are sweet awesome young men and we love them so much. One wants to be a priest in the Army in a few years- His mom has served three tours in the war and when I am tired I think of her and the many others that are making sacrifices for our country to be FREE. I think of the long runs THEY make with heavy back packs on. I can't even imagine what they go through. Stop and pray for their safety and God to bless them and their families. For God to keep our nation FREE and one nation UNDER GOD.

I also think of the children and parents we are raising money for. I think of them going to doctor appointments, loosing hair, praying for hope and life and love. Stop and pray for each child, parent, grandparent. Praise God for all He has done and will do. To God be the GLORY.

Click We babysit two adorable dogs in the house next door for a week. Each day I walk into the home I fall to my knees and ask God to help their dad ask Jesus in his heart.

Click God lets us join Him and attend our 5th Family Life Marriage Conference. We are honored to sponsor our niece and her fiancé. God is so sweet to let us see our prayers answered. I have prayed for five years that God would let us have the honor of taking each of our nieces, nephews and any children He lets us raise to this amazing conference.

God has used this marriage conference to restore us, grow us, refine us, unite us and fill us with unspeakable LOVE JOY AND PEACE. I pray everyone reading this gets a chance to attend. If God is tugging at your heart check out our Blog at www.designdoctor247.com for more information. AMAZING LOVE AMAZING LOVE There are not words good enough to Praise You Lord.

down down down again. The sweet sweet Boston Terrier named Scooter we have had for 9 years is about to die! Oh my gosh I cry out to God, "God you tell us you will never give us more than we can bear. I know this is not much compared to what many go through but God PLEASE HELP I feel like I can't catch my breath." Scooter is put on IV and after three days he pulls through....Thank you God for your mercy and grace.

Breath pray repeat.

I think about quitting again but I soooooooooooooo want to LEARN what God is teaching me and I am learning to TRUST HIM MORE and I am feeling HIS PEACE IN THE STORMS. so I pray - when will this ride be over and help me hold on and TRY TO ENJOY IT and SEE MORE OF YOU GOD.

Click going up again June 9th we travel to New Mexico and see Mom's only living brother and his wife celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. It is gooooood to see family and feel their arms hug us, to encourage them and be encouraged. I see GOD in the majestic of the mountain - the flowers on the cactus - the smiles of people I have known my whole life and some I just got to meet. I hear His words of comfort. To God be the GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.

Click June Having a hard time being motivated to get the personal swims in so I join a swim team at the gym. I'm in the first lane again :) It's ok I am just thankful to be on a team. God encouraged me in an unexpected way today. The coach just happens to be IRONMAN Dave. He is one of the original men who started the IRONMAN RACES. God, you surprise us and encourage us in UNEXPECTED ways. Coach has a broken leg but he is still training in the water. What inspiration!!! God help him finish his race for you! God you are soooooooooooooo amazing and I REALLY enjoyed seeing your hand at work!

Click I go to my cardiologist appointment. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. I tell people it just means I have a weak heart but it's getting stronger every day! Two years ago the doctor said my heart functions at 35-40% and most people's functions at 50-60% ok I think that is not too bad. The church prays for me and I have a stress test and angiogram and they came back fine. So God TOTALLY changes how I eat and exercise and God helps me lose 80 pounds in 2 years. I have low blood pressure and low cholesterol so I do not fit what most people think of as a heart condition - I don't think I fit it either. but I keep having these sharp stabbing pains in my chest and now sometimes my neck is so tight It feels like a rubber band that can't be stretched anymore so I go back in for a follow-up. I get a GREAT checkup she says my blood pressure and pulse rate is as good as a well trained athlete and there is nothing they can give to lower it - so I am off the med. She fills me with good NEWS and HOPE. but schedules another echocardiogram on Monday the 26th just as a follow up test. I expect great news. I leave ON TOP OF THE WORLD HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea God Yea God Yea God

Click July 15th Every Thursday night Team and Training has a bike training session with us. I have been going to many of them but fighting the fear and not wearing my clip on shoes. God has met me each step of the way with a coach or mentor to encourage me. Thank you God for each coach and mentor who helped me! Tonight my mentor Kathleen rides with me and talks to me about mom and well is just there for me --- the fear is lifting :) Thank you God.

Click July 17th Every Sat Team in Training has another training session with us... Today we do a double Brick which means ride 9 miles run two and then repeat it. God brought another mentor right beside me on the first ride and the fear is almost gone... The second ride he brought a coach and a mentor beside me and all GLORY TO GOD the FEAR IS GONE! HE IS AMAZING! I am so thankful God brought these purple people into my life and just think several months ago I thought I was joining to help them ha ha I had no idea they would be the ones who helped me - God is like that you know. He is UNPREDICTIBLE! He is GOD! ALLLLLLLLLLLLL things are possible with GOD!

Click July 17th Had a ball raising money and washing cars. WOW! An amazing fun HOT day for our whole family! A memory that will last our lifetime. It was one of those days when you KNOW you are at the right place doing the right thing! Yea GOD!

Click Volunteered at the Disco Triathlon and saw a co-worker of my husband's run faster than anything I have ever seen. It gave me hope to see someone I actual knew finish the triathlon. Yea God!

Click July 19th Scooter is sick again. Back to doctor. More antibiotics. He recovers again. Thank you God.

Click Praying for our Team in Training coach and my mentor's boyfriend as they compete in the Ironman in Switzerland. Praying for my mentor to learn what God is teaching her and preparing her for her Ironman. Allllllllllllll things are possible with God!

Click John is offered a new job at work and then a new job with his best friends company! We are in shock, excited shock and well do not know what to do - We pray and ask others to pray for us.

Click WOW! June 21st another dream may come true. Our good friend from church called and asked if we wanted to babysit a baby grand piano. Are you kidding? Yes!!! I have had a photo of one on our wall for 8 years as I have prayed and dreamed of being a Stewart of one and playing it beside my daughter. Even if all we play is Old McDonald it will be a LIFETIME dream come true! Yea GOD!!! Tears of JOY!

Click June 23 - Ran 16 miles. I told myself I would never run more than 13 without a medal - the day before I ran my medal from a half marathon GOD IN ME ran back in March came in the mail! It gave me hope and GOD IN ME RAN AGAIN.

Click Went home to see dad - this is our first time home in 7 weeks - first time to drive into their drive way and be hugged by dad and wait for mom to come out the door but know she is not there. It was hard but God was with us. God even helped us clean her room and closet. It was hard, God carried us through it! Through the whole thing with mom going to see Jesus (Most of the time)I feel like I am in the eye of a storm - stuff is spinning out of control all around me but all I can do is SEE it and not touch it. I am in a strange way calm and at peace. When I pray - I see His answers. Like I prayed let me SEE dad is doing good and God showed me a clean house with laundry done. God showed me a yard that was mowed and a bible that was being read!

God is amazing! When I CRY out to Him He comes - I often try to fix stuff/ DO stuff instead of pray ON ALL OCCIASIONS and I MISS HIS BLESSING. God forgive me. It was a goooooooood visit. We went to Sunday School and Faith sat in mom's Sunday school chair. We went to church with dad and Faith sat beside her grandpa the way I remember sitting beside his mom! The Sunday School said they would pray for us. Thank you God. Tears of thankfulness...

Click Received a letter inviting me to be in the bsf -Bible Study Fellowship International prayer group. If you have never heard of www.bsfinternational.org I pray you go check it out on the web. God has used this bible study to grow our family in the Lord. He filled me with hope today - I have been praying for 4 years for McKinney to have a woman's night bible study fellowship class and now I am honored to join a group of ladies who will all pray for God's will together. I pray you find a bsf class in your area and see His blessing all around you.

DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN Doctor's appointment - Expecting more good news. Went in for the echocardiogram and thought it was going to be great!!!. I give God GLORY and Praise for every prayer prayed and for Faith being soooooooooooo good for 5 hours in the waiting room at both appointments! I Praise Praise Praise God John could take off and be with me and listen to what the doctor told us because it was way more than I could take in. I hear bla bla bla - I mean it was like Charlie Browns teacher was talking. She said my heart was not getting better and that I need to get back on the med but at a lower does and then my brain shut down -John will have to write the rest.

All I know is I went in three days later and was put to sleep and woke up with this thing in my chest that monitors my heart rate. I am ok with it - really - but I TOTALLY did NOT expect it. I am back to fear again. Fear of losing our insurance if John leaves the company he has worked for -for 16 years! Fear of losing the life insurance I have though his company and not being able to qualify for more. Fear to run - jump - swim - ride - live.

BUT I KNOW THAT GOD DOES NOT NOT NOT FILL ME WITH FEAR!!! HE FILLS US WITH HOPE and LOVE and JOY so I will let John finish this letter and will WAIT ON THE LORD. I can't seem to stop the tears some days. BUT I KNOW THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH so I am praying for HIS JOY in the Pain!

I know you will pray for me. I know each of you LOVE ME and could care less if I finish this triathlon or not. I know if God calls you to give it will not be because I am doing this race it will be because you answered His call. I WANT TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED and raise this money - Do not let the evil one win this battle and please give if God is calling you to.

With allllllllllllll my heart I also want to do the triathlon and the desire to FINISH and even complete an IRON MAN in KONA has NOT left me - On September the 5th and November 14 I am committed to run two marathons - God in me has trained for these. God in me has run one marathon and five half marathons in 7 months!!! GOD IN US IS STRONGER than we can even IMAGINE!!!

so my heart doesn't pump like most people's so I might have something called sudden death syndrome - the way I see it we all have sudden death syndrome - no one knows the hour or day they will die or He will return. I choose to believe God is saving that 20% of my heart function for the days I will REALLY NEED it. :) Like a heart saving account :) I choose to see it as a positive not a negative and I CHOOSE TO TRUST GOD not man.

I will be going to a church retreat next Thursday Friday Sat and Sun pray for me to have peace from God and COURAGE and WISDOM. I WANT to FINISH this ride and I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN FEAR. I also want to DO HIS WILL. If His will is for me is to not run - swim - bike I am TOTALLY ok with that tooo. I am NOT IN IT TO WIN IT. I am IN it to BRING HIM GLORY and FINISH the race.

1. Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Acts 20:23-25 (in Context) Acts 20 (Whole Chapter)

2. 2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)

prayer request
God's blessing and protection for the TEAM in Training's team and each family we run for.
Wisdom - obedience and courage for John to work for the boss God is calling him to.
Wisdom - obedience and energy to home school Faith next year.
Wisdom, obedience, courage, Protection, energy and passion to serve God in the way He calls all of us.
Next doctor's appointment is Aug 26 at 8:30

So... Susan asked me to add a paragraph to this letter to summarize. Not sure I can. If you read this far, you've realized by now just how intensely personal, and difficult the last couple of months have been. How do you quantify an outpouring of emotion that this letter has been. I hope it was cathartic for Susan, as it certainly brings up the tears.

The purpose for sending this out it to bring your attention to a cause we are supporting. We've all been touched by cancer in some way. I've had family and friends that lost their health, time, money, and some, their lives battling cancer. My cousin lost her life, and left behind 2 beautiful children. A good friend at work, lost his battle with this disease. It can happen so fast. So, what do you do about it?

Susan and I are supporting a cause known as Team in Training. This group uses running to support fundraising to find a cure. All proceeds are tax deductable, if that's important to you, and go to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Your donation may make a difference in the life of someone who needs it, or could sponsor research that eliminates the disease altogether. Susan is running a triathlon in support of this group.

If you don't know, a triathlon (Olympic distance) consists of a .94 Mile open water swim, followed by a 24 mile bike ride, followed by a 6.2 mile run. If you can support this cause, if cancer has touched your life, please consider going to Susan's blog(www.designdoctor247.com), and clicking the link to donate. No amount is too small, and if you are unable to donate, or don't feel led to do so, please consider saying a prayer for Susan.