It's Business, It's Business Time...

First of all, if you don't know what the title's from, I'm sorry for what you've missed out on.

This marathon is on November 13. Two weeks ago our 16 week training program began. Of course, we've been "training" since February when we first decided to do this. But that "training" was just to prepare us for the real training. Crazy, I know. Over the past months I've gone through different cycles. I'd be really dedicated and committed for a few weeks and then I'd have a few weeks of being "too busy" (aka too lazy).

To be fair, it wasn't all laziness. I had several injuries to work through too - bulging disc in my lower back, supposed heart problems that turned out to be gallbladder. Two weeks ago when the rest of our team was starting the 16 week training program, I was having my gallbladder removed. Nonetheless, the up and down cycles are over - it's business time.

The time has come for unwavering dedication and commitment to running my legs off. Three days a week of running between 4 and 10 miles each day. Plus one long run every Saturday morning ranging from 10 to 20 miles. Over the next 13.5 weeks I'll be running about 450 miles. (I panicked a little just now.)

BUT, there are two sides to this story. The running is definitely the part that affects me the most - running 450 miles in 13.5 weeks is life-changing. Period. In several ways, for several reasons, this running is making me a different (and hopefully) better person. I've said it before and the deeper I get into this story the more it becomes true - there is something about sacrificing in a physical manner for the benefit of someone else that affects a person in a deeply emotional way.

However, running my legs off by itself does nothing to help people in Africa find clean water. The second part of this story is fund raising. And, like I said, it's business time. Let the fund raising begin. So far our team has raised about $1500. That is 1500 Africans that will have clean water for one year. That's awesome! But, we have a long way to go to reach our goal of raising $10,000.

This is how all the sane people who are not running a marathon can get involved. We keep saying "it's not about the running, it's about the water." Raising money to provide clean water is the most important thing that we are doing. One dollar provides one African with clean water for one year. Everyone can give something - even if it's just $1. $1 makes a HUGE difference - a life-changing difference - for one person.

How can you step into this story with us? What can you sacrifice to better the life (perhaps save the life) of someone on the other side of the world?

Chrystal Murphy

Talk About Inspiring

Over the past months I've been told over and over that "what we're doing is inspiring". While I'm glad that others feel inspired by this marathon madness, it feels weird when people say that. I'm just a regular gal running myself to death.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine handed me a big ziplock bag full of coins and one dollar bills - a donation for H2O Runners. Her four children along with a friend of theirs decided, on their own, to raise money to fight the water crisis. These five children heard us talking about the lack of clean water in Africa during several church services and they wanted to help.

They set up a water balloon stand in their neighborhood. They sold water balloons and told their neighbors about how people in Africa don't have clean water. They raised $50. That means there are 50 people in Africa who will have clean water for one year. And, their parents didn't even know they were doing this - they did it totally on their own.

These five children used one of their last summer days to help people on the other side of the world and in doing so they drastically affected the health and well being of at least 50 people.

Talk about inspiring!

Chrystal Murphy

Set Backs

We started this marathon madness at the end of February. Since then I have had more "sickness", seen more doctors, and taken more medicine than ever before in my life. If going from "couch to marathon" in 8 months wasn't bad enough, I've had about 10 weeks off due to injuries.

In April I had a bulging disk in my lower back. Not a running injury but the pain it caused definitely made the running impossible. I got 5 weeks off from running and 8 weeks of physical therapy. In June (one week before completing my PT for the previous injury) I had some sort of "attack". I thought it was a heart attack. Mike took me to the ER - first ever trip to the ER. Tests showed it wasn't a heart attack BUT my heart does have an atypical rhythm that I had to get checked out. My doctor gave me another 4 weeks off from running and a referral to a cardiologist. The cardiologist said I could go back to running, he thinks my heart is fine but just to be sure I'm scheduled for an echo on Monday and while I'm there I have to pick up a heart monitor that I will be wearing for the next two weeks. Doesn't that sound fun!

As for the attack - we thought it was low potassium then thought it was severe reflux then thought it was stress - all of which may have played a part but probably not the real culprit. This week I've had two more attacks and now believe it's my gallbladder. I went back to my doctor on Wednesday and he feels confident that the gallbladder is the real problem. Of course, as Mike pointed out, a few weeks ago he was confident that several other things were the problem so who knows. I go tomorrow morning for an ultrasound to confirm and then most likely will go directly to surgery to have it removed.

Fun times.

Again, before running the only medical history I had was the occasional flu and a c-section. You'd think something like exercise would make you more healthy not more sick. It wouldn't be as frustrating if any of these were running injuries. No doubt running does crazy stuff to your body but none of these "injuries" have been directly related to the intense pounding that is running. It's crazy! I feel like I'm falling apart all at once - all while trying to "live a better story" and "do something for someone else".

Training for a marathon in 8 months, when there is virtually no physical activity in your life to begin with, is tough - like nearly impossible. But, it is doable. It takes hard work and dedication and lots of water but it can be done. When you factor in the injuries and 10 weeks off and now a probable surgery, I don't think its humanly possible. I ran a 10k in June - 6.2 miles. Since then I've only been able to run twice. Next week I'm supposed to be able to run 10 miles. 10 miles.

At this point, there is absolutely no way that I can do this. No way - short of a miracle - that I can fit in the amount of training required to do this marathon in November. But maybe that's the point.

We keep reminding ourselves that this journey is not about us, it's not even about the running. The point of all of this is that there are people in Africa who are sick and dying all because they need water. Water - something we take so much for granted.

I can't do this - not by myself, not without God's intervention. I think He wants it that way. I think He wants me to depend on Him, to know that I'm helpless and in WAY over my head and that He is the only rescue. It's not about me or what I can do - it's about God and what He can do. He can do a lot more than I can.

Chrystal Murphy

10k

Our team ran a great race today! I expected it to be difficult for me as I have a low tolerance for temperatures above 65, and that is truly not an exaggeration. Dare I say it exceeded my expectations?

I felt sick most of the race, particularly after mile 4. I even threw up (3 times!) less than .1 mile from the finish line. On top of that, my iPod froze somewhere around mile 4.5, and it was just getting to the best set in my playlist! (Last night I took the time to make sure that my favorite songs would be playing after I reached mile 4 to help keep me motivated to finish in the hot, humid sunshine.) Also, I really had to go (#1) from the time the race started. Needless to say, I was terribly uncomfortable today.

After I lost my music I started thinking about a lot of things, which I don't think everyone cares to hear all about. Naturally, I thought about why I was running in this race when I knew I would have a hard time handling it. I thought about the grueling training schedule for our team for the next few months and how much I hated running. Then I saw someone from my church run past me and I thought about how I needed to get on the ball with raising money for Blood: Water Missions. At about this time I got to the last water station. While I held the cup of water in my hand for a moment I thought about how we take for granted having clean, fresh water almost any time we want it. I thought about how cool it is that I am part of a team that is working to raise money and awareness to provide clean drinking water to people in Africa. I also thought about how thankful I am that Chrystal had the heart and vision to bring this team together for a common purpose to bring glory to God by serving others.

Again I say, great work, team!

Back At It...Finally!

Well, after five weeks of not being able/allowed to run, my doctor gave me the go ahead to get back at it. He actually cleared me last Wednesday. I'm not sure if it was fear or just laziness but I didn't get around to running until Friday. I was really concerned that it would feel like starting over again. Not that I necessarily minded starting all over again but we are running a 10k in about 4 weeks and I knew that there was no way I'd be ready for that if I had to start over.

Thanks to my wonderful physical therapists, my chiropractor and my teammate Ruth who passed on very helpful information about running form - I felt like I never missed a beat. Actually, I felt better and was able to run farther than ever before!

I ran for 20 minutes straight on Friday. If you run a lot, you know that running 20 minutes is nothing. This 10k will take at least an hour (for me, probably an hour and a half). But, I hadn't ran 20 minutes straight in my prior training. I had worked up to 9 minute intervals with 1 minute walks in between. So, for me, running 20 minutes was a big deal.

It was a crazy, busy weekend - Mike and I drove to Athens and back four days in a row. I wasn't able to run again till Monday. Even with the lack of sleep, the horrible food I ate all weekend and the McDonald's fries and sweet tea I had for lunch an hour prior to my run (not a good idea, by the way) I still felt great.

I'm hopeful about the 10k. I may not be able to run the entire 6.2 miles but I'm pretty sure I'll finish on my feet - and that's what I call a success!

Chrystal Murphy

Benched

When I was in seventh grade my parents made me play basketball. I wasn't very good at basketball. I didn't mind the dribbling and passing and shooting (although my aim was terrible). But, I hated the running (ironically). Since playing basketball = lots of running AND I was terrible, I didn't really enjoy the sport.

I always started the games on the bench, but I was okay with that. The bench was safe. I knew what to do on the bench - follow the ball up and down the court and cheer for my team. I was good at cheering for my team. When my coach wanted to put in a sub I would literally pray he wouldn't send me into the game.

The court was very unsafe. I didn't have a clue about what to do on the court. In fact, I scored only one goal all season AND that one goal was...wait for it...in the other team's basket.

Needless to say, I didn't mind my time on the bench.

That was then...

Now, I don't really like being benched. Of course, I'm not playing ball, if I were I might feel differently. But I am running. I don't hate it anymore. But I'm benched nonetheless. Last week my leg started hurting. Then we ran the 5k on Saturday and I guess I made it worse. I haven't been able to run since. I went to the doctor and found out I have a bulging disk in my lower back and have to do some physical therapy to correct it.

It's not a running injury. I've had this issue before - I have an extra vertebra. It's weird, I know. It makes my lower back curve wrong and puts pressure on the nerve that runs down into my leg. It also makes the muscle that runs from my lower back down around my hip to my thigh tighten up - thus the pain.

Even though it wasn't caused by running, it is definitely is made worse by running. I don't like not being able to run. Mainly because someone had this insane idea to go from couch to marathon in about 8 months - I don't have time to sit out. Losing a whole week of training is a BIG deal. And, to make it worse, I'm not sure how much more time I'll be forced to lose before I can get back in the game. This makes me nervous.

But also, I've learned this week that I actually enjoy running. No, not the sweating and the nearly passing out. But I enjoy the benefits of running. Maybe "enjoy" is too strong, maybe I "appreciate" running. I feel better when I run. Since I've started running I've had very few headaches, and this week I've had one every day. I'm less tired when I run. I'm happier...and probably nicer when I run.

I haven't found that runner's high I've heard so much about, I still don't think it exists. But, I do miss it and am thankful my injury is temporary. I'm thankful I will run again...hopefully very soon.

Chrystal Murphy

You might not want to read this . . .

If you’re hoping to read something really clever, or witty, or inspiring - you should probably try another blog. I have nothing interesting or profound to say, but I AM so excited!

I will run my first *official* race Saturday morning and I’m countin’ down the hours. In some small way, all of this training will be validated when I hit the pavement for the first time as a competitive athlete (the fact that those two words apply to me is completely insane!). Just to clarify a bit - I am competing with me, myself, and I. My goal is to finish the 5k (that’s 3.1 miles) in less than 37 minutes. If I am able to do that, it will be a personal best. More important than time and distance is the fact that I am running - and 10 weeks ago I wasn’t. So bring on Saturday and 3.1 miles ‘cause I’m ready to run!

And who knows, I might even have something witty or profound to say when I cross the finish line.

Ruth Dammann

These knees were made for running...

...actually, they weren't. But, it's not stopping me!

For the first time since I agreed to train for a full marathon I believe that I really can do it. I ran 10 miles yesterday and it was great and easier than I expected. For the record, 6.4 miles (10k) is the longest distance I have ever run at one time. I was nervous about it and believed that I might not make it. I ran with my friend Lindsey, who ran two half-marathons last year.

We ran from the dam to the Hunter Art Museum (7 miles) and then back 3 more miles to where my car was parked. At every mile marker I was genuinely excited and surprised by how quickly we were hitting them. "Look! Only 9 more miles to go!...Only 8 more miles!" and less energetically further along until mile 7, " We are FOR REAL almost finished. Now we just gotta run back to my car. EASY!"

Knowing how I was able to tackle that distance makes me feel even more confident about the real half-marathon in two weeks. At mile 9 I thought to myself, "One more mile today, 4.1 more miles in 2 weeks. Yeah, I can do that. And, like a million more miles in November. Yeah, I can do that too." I also thought that a pouch of "GU" would really do me good right about then.

I know that running a full marathon will take much more preparation and physical toll than what I am "training" for now. (I say it like that because I truly have not trained like I should have.) But, I believe that with support from my fellow H2O Runners, and setting the ultimate goal to raise money and awareness for Blood Water Missions, I think that God will prepare my heart (and lungs and legs) for the challenge that lies ahead.

April Grubbs

I Did It...and didn't die!

I looked fear and failure in the eyeballs and said, "Bring it! Bring on the pain. Bring on the mind games. Bring on the running in a stationary place for 45 minutes. I will beat you down!"

Ok, maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic...I'm following a Couch to 10K running program. Last week I ran in 5 minute intervals (run 5 minutes, walk 1, repeat 5 times). Starting today it jumped to 8 minute intervals (run 8 minutes, walk 1, repeat 4 times). I honestly didn't think I could do it. Plus, I've had some leg pain issues this week.

I thought about just repeating the last workout - running 5 minute intervals. I mean, it's still running and I might hurt my leg if I push too far. When I got up this morning my leg felt great. I decided I'd try - if I fail, I fail and just try again on Monday.

And even though I did knock my iPhone off the holder and had to chase it off the treadmill (seriously, people laughed I'm sure), I DID IT! I ran the snot out of some 8 minute intervals. Does my leg hurt? Yep, but nothing a little aleve and ice won't fix. I ran/walked a total of 3.64 miles in 45 minutes (about half a mile of that being the 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down).

I learned today that my mind plays a much bigger part in my running ability than I previously realized. I learned to thank God for the little victories - that's what keeps us going. I also learned to wear my armpocket instead of trying to balance my phone on the treadmill.

Best tunes: Once again, Will Smith to the rescue with Gettin Jiggy and Miami. These are the only two Will Smith songs on my iPod - maybe I should download more since I seem to like it so much.

By Chrystal Murphy

Pro's and Con's...

...of running early on a Saturday morning.

Pro: There were very few people at the gym - I had my pick of the treadmills.

Pro: It was still cool outside when I was done so my car wasn't hot.

Pro: Got the running out of the way so I can just relax for the rest of the day.

Con: RUNNING AT 7:30 ON A SATURDAY MORNING!

I missed out on the team run today. Mikayla's birthday party is this afternoon and if she doesn't get to sleep in she will be a terror. So I ran early so I could get back in time for Mike to go to the team run and the sweet angel is still sleeping soundly. I'll miss running with everyone - especially since we didn't run last week - but having a two year old who is not screaming is worth the sacrifice.

On a side note, I LOVE my new headphones. Finally found a pair that don't make me want to throw them on the ground and stomp on them.

Best tunes this morning: Miami by Will Smith (that's right, don't judge me), Geek in the Pink by Jason Mraz, Oh Happiness by David Crowder Band.

Go Team! My encouragement is with you even if my body is not.

By Chrystal Murphy