Well, Kona is out of the picture.

Just when I was hoping that my blog would get more interesting because I would win one of those coveted Kona race slots.....I did not get picked. So then came the realization that I had to stop lolly gaging around and pick a few races to do so that I would not have to re-name my blog something else like, "Coach Liz's Amazing Couch Surfing Adventure" or "Coach Liz's Incredible Journey Into the Realm of Chocolate" or some other crazy-ass, not quite ready for reality TV special.

I got off my duff and registered for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon. Mind you, I some how convinced my step-brother back at Christmas that this was something he needed to do to make his life complete and meaningful. He has been signed up for this thing for months and training. I'm a bit fearful that he is going to be faster than me come race day with all the fantastic training he is putting in. I gave him a schedule of long runs to do and gave him some advice on hydration and fueling while he runs. He calls me Coach. I think that I should legally change my first name to Coach. Just about everyone calls me that.

Well anyway, I go to register for the event this past week, and it was full. SHIT!!! I was feeling like a real heel. I told my step-brother I was going to run this thing with him and now the stinking race was full. Oh but wait! There were a few slots left. In order to obtain a race slot for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon, I had to become a traitor of sorts. I had to sign up to fund raise for the American Cancer Society. I am going to raise the $1250 dollars for them, but I am still wearing my Team in Training gear for the race. Sorry, ACS for not wearing your gear, but cancer is cancer and I'm sorta passionate about blood cancers. So I'm in. And now my dad is going to read this and tell my step-brother. HA! No sweeping family secrets under the rug here on this blog.

I did a good bike and run workout yesterday in the beautiful rolling hills of Chappell Hill, TX. The fields and hillsides were carpeted in swaths of purple, orange, yellow, and red with all the wild flowers that are in bloom. We had a good rainy season so the wild flowers went crazy this spring.

Today I did a solid 13.5 mile run in 2:07. It was humid and steamy this morning. The temp was probably 68 but it was a warm 68 degrees. The mist hung in the air and Greyhound commented on how it was only in Houston that you could drink the air. We got started at 5:45 in the morning and it was very peaceful and quiet in the city. The park was bustling when we returned 2 hours later.

Finally, Olympic Gold Medal Speed Skater, Chad Hedrick came and spoke at our church this morning. He grew up and still lives only a few miles from where my house is. He is a recent Christian and talked about how meeting his wife and her family led him to accept Christ and what an impact it had on his training and how he approached the Olympic games in Vancouver so much differently than he did in Torino. He shared with us his testimony and the scripture that has meant so much to him over the past few months of training and competition.

1 Corinthians Chapter 9

24 Do you not see that in a running competition all take part, but only one gets the reward? So let your minds be fixed on the reward.
25 And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown.

Very powerful stuff. Chad also got a chance to speak to the middle school aged kids as well. I am glad that Houston has such a fantastic athletic role model for our kids to look up to.

Alright, tomorrow is the Boston Marathon! I will be keeping tabs on Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi on my iPhone while I am at work.

Later Gators,

Liz