The Little Things

I've heard a number of times from 2 time Olympian (and on his way to 3!) Meb Keflezighi that it is all about the little things that makes him a world champion at the age of 41. I've reflected on this and realize it truly is the little things that keep you healthy in order to compete at an elite level. Whether it is icing, stretching, strength training, foam rolling, or eating at specific times, all of these are essential to keep up with the training.

One of my little things has to do with keeping my feet in top shape. As you can imagine, my feet take quite the beating with 50, 60, 70, 80+ miles racking up each week. During races it goes to a whole other level.  I remember coming home to my parents house last summer after the San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon and letting my brother exact his Paramedic expertise on my feet by placing lidocaine soaked strips over 3 inch long blisters on the balls of my feet before patching them up so I could even walk around.  I sat at the finish line that day for 30 minutes with giant ice bags under my toes just to cool my feet off.

What I've learned over the last year is that there are little things that I can do every day to avoid the excruciating pain I experienced that last June, and it doesn't cost much.  My secret: Vaseline and a foot pumice stone.

Yep, I use Vaseline like a child is given unrestricted access to Nutella.  Morning and night, before and after every training run and race, I'm constantly greasing up my feet to keep them soft so blisters don't develop.  Along with that, every time I'm in the shower, I'm scrubbing down my feet to keep from any build up of callouses that would eventually result in really deep blisters on my feet on race day and long runs (what happened in June).

It is amazing how such a little thing of applying Vasaline and using a foot pumice stone can eliminate so much pain from your life.  It is so simple that early on in my discovery of its effectiveness, I slacked in my disciplined usage doubting if it was really necessary all of the time.  Well, every time I don't stick to the routine, the blisterous pain returns.  So now I use it religiously.

It is funny how in life there are so many little things that can make our lives less painful, that we know about and have even experienced their benefits, but still slack in disciplining ourselves to stick to it for our own well being.  Yes, there is grace, heaps of it, so we can always start over.  But let's do something good for ourselves and choose with discipline those little (and best) things.

Take Care,
Janet

P.S. I'd love to hear one of your "little things" that help you to experience an abundant life.  Share it in a comment below.

Support Janet's Running Career

As many of you know, I have a dream to qualify for the Olympic Trials!  You've been following me on social media these last 2 years and seen the incredible transformation that has taken place in my life and the resurrection of my passion for running.  I hope you have been inspired along the way!

Up until now I have been creating training plans all on my own, which has been an incredible learning experience in becoming an elite athlete.  However, I am now at a point in my running career that the next step in taking my running to another level is to invest in a coach to help me strategize and train at the elite level so I can make it to the Olympic Trials.  In order to do this, I need some help from friends and family.

With every race and accomplishment I am grateful for all of the encouragement and support I've received.  It means so much to me to have hundreds of people cheering me on both at the finish line and in the digital world.  As I continue to train towards my dream, know that I know I can't do it without you.

To get the kind of coaching I need, it will cost me $250/month.  This works out to be 50 people donating $5/month, 25 people donating $10/month, 10 people donating $25/month, or one generous donor at $250/month.  Would you consider helping me to take my running to the next level?

If so, fill out the PayPal link below.  Any amount helps!

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Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  With your support, I will be sure to keep you updated on all of my running endeavors.  You're truly helping to make my dreams come true!

Sincerely,
Janet

Zip-Line Through The Redwoods

In no particular order, I will begin with the first dream on my list:

Zip-lining through the Redwoods.

About a year ago, I was at church during a worship time and the Lord began speaking to me through a vision. He and I were in an orchard/forest walking around and exploring the various kinds of trees that were planted there. He was telling me that each tree represented the dreams He had for me in my life. There were trees with all kinds of different fruit and flowers, and a variety of scents filled the air. It was exciting to explore all that the Lord had in store for me. He seemed particularly excited to show me a specific tree and grabbed my hand and we began running through the forest. After a short time, we came to the base of an enormous Redwood tree.

The diameter of the tree's base had to be at least 15 feet and it was so tall that I could not see the top of it. The Lord said to me with a huge smile, "Let's climb it," and a rush of anticipation and excitement filled my being. He started to climb and quickly I was right behind him working our way up the tree with nearly no effort at all. At different points the Lord and I raced to the next branch and laughed away like little children as we climbed higher and higher up this giant Redwood tree.

I almost forgot that we were in a forest of my dreams as the whole experience of climbing up this tree with the Lord captivated my heart. Here was the Lord, the Perfect Father, my Best Friend, the Love of my life, joyously sharing this experience with me that would further define the infinite affection we have towards one another. If this was all we had done, I would be satisfied, but He had more to show me.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. -Ephesians 3:20 MSG

Near the canopy, the branches began to thin out and the Lord brought us to a place where we could sit comfortably and look out over the view. It was magnificent. It felt like we were miles high and yet there was no end to the forest. There were other tall trees of various heights, but none like the one we were on, and there were a number of trees of all different colors, like how the trees change color in the fall. As we gazed over this forest, my forest of dreams, I was in awe of the mystery of His great love for me that He would create such a place as beautiful as this with me in mind. He truly is good and great.

After what seemed like hours confined to only moments, the Lord said He had one more thing to show me. I turned around and noticed we had been sitting on a platform. On the other side of the tree a cable was firmly attached that strung across the forest, all the way down to the forest floor, I could barely see the end of it. The Lord said, "I have this in store for you too." I knew exactly what to do. I strapped myself in and attached myself to the cable, and the Lord did the same. On the count of three we stepped off the platform, and what felt like flying, we took off over the canopy of trees with my heart full and hope renewed. I knew at that moment someday the Lord would work out an opportunity for this to happen in the physical world along with the fulfillment of all of the other dreams He has planted in that forest. This is where my dream to zip-line through the Redwoods was rooted in my heart.

Not long after this vision did I discover that there is a zip-line course in the Redwoods in Santa Cruiz, CA. I have yet to find the time, funds, and people to go with to see this dream become a reality, but I know in it's right time it will be fulfilled.

Thanks for reading,
Janet

A New Year

Considering it has been almost a year since my last post, I thought it might be a great idea to start blogging again. Yes, just like adding a workout routine to my new years resolution list, blogging is yet another I hope to follow through on.

A year ago I was blogging about my time in Haiti in response to the earthquake, this year I am going to start on a little lighter note. I've decided to start compiling a dream list. Up to this point, I have forty dreams on this list and I wanted to share them with whoever decides to read this blog. My hope in sharing these dreams is to open up a little about who I am and what I love, explore how these dreams took root in my heart, give myself an opportunity to discover how I might see these dreams fulfilled, provide an opportunity for others to help me see these dreams fulfilled, and also give others permission to dream. You're never too young, old, washed up, or messed up to stop dreaming. A quote by Dutch Sheets characterizes the heart of why I'm writing this next series of blogs, "Hope is hearing the melody of the future and faith is dancing to it."

Here's to me dancing to the melody of my dreams fulfilled!

Janet

Out of the depths of His heart, my dreams arise...
Created by Janet, 2011