Monthly Archives: November 2011

I enjoy reading Jesus Needs New PR, a website that combines serious posts with comedy with Jon Stewart-caliber sarcasm. It also has an active community of  passionate commenters, especially when Mark Driscoll is mentioned, so there’s rarely a dull moment.

I’ve come to find out is that the owner of the site, Matthew Paul Turner, is a super guy. He’s kind and an encourager. He’s a great writer, having written twelve books and was a contributor to several others.

I’m thrilled to have a post on his site today.

Here’s a few snippets from it …

A few years ago I was asked to write an essay for a newsletter. I sent it …

The editor complimented the essay and then had a few suggested changes …

I stared at her changes for a long time … trying to reconcile what it said with what I had sent. As an editor, she had ever right to edit my essay, but suggesting I change my words to fit a Christianese language/culture/false image she aspired to was way beyond editing.

My shock moved from the changes she made to my essay to other areas of life…

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Head over to Jesus Needs New PR to read the rest.

Other guest posts I have done:

Monday Myth … between the perfect gifts, decorations, 5-course meals and finding the best deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, having a ‘successful’ holiday season produces stress.

Fact: Holidays don’t produce stress … your choices do.

While each of the things mentioned above is good and can add to your enjoyment of the season … none of them is important enough to allow them to add dangerous stress to your health. While certain types/degrees of stress can strengthen us—walking 10 minutes farther, memorizing poems, setting reasonable deadlines—anxiety-producing stress can harm us.

We’ve heard it said before, but it needs repeating … stress kills!

Research suggests that 60-90% of health issues are caused by or exacerbated by unhealthy stress. Because life isn’t perfect, we all have some of the signs/symptoms below at any given time … but if any of them get worse during the holidays, you may be making choices that are creating stress.

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive Symptoms

• Memory problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying

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Emotional Symptoms

• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness and isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness

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Physical Symptoms

• Aches and pains
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds

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Behavioral Symptoms

• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

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As you think about the coming weeks … will you do what you do out of a healthy place of love and strength because you want to create a memorable holiday season for yourself and others? Or are you doing them out of a need to validate yourself and/or impress others?

Meditate on the fact that things/events/etc. don’t add any value to who you are as a person.

You are enough … simply for being you. 

Even if everyone else buys huge gifts for everyone else … why do you have to? Especially if you can’t afford it.

Even if everyone else has a zillion lights/decorations/etc … why do you have to? Especially if you don’t have the time, money or energy to do it.

Even if everyone’s kids have new homemade pjs for Christmas morning … why do yours have to? Especially if you’ve never sewed before.

It’s your choice. 

Again none of the holiday traditions are bad (unless they’re bad … like eating or drinking too much) most of them are quite lovely and if you have time/money/energy on your hands… then by all means celebrate the season to the hilt.

But if necessary, adapting a less is more attitude could help you make wiser choices and will decrease the stress in your life.

Because making choices that will add unnecessary stress to your life seems kind of counter-productive to the whole meaning of the season … doesn’t it?

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What tips do you have for making wise choices to reduce stress, especially during the holidays?

This weekend is the start of the busiest time of year for most people. Before you drive yourself (and others) crazy, blow your budget and more … stop and consider what you want this season to look like. The choice is yours.

Courtney Carver at Be More With Less wrote a great post about how to have a simpler holiday season. These thoughts of hers are powerful reminders of how to live well during the next few weeks.

 Spend less, love more.

Eat less, live more.

 Party less, rest more.

Enjoy less stuff and more joy.

 Focus on the outside less and inside more.

Do less, be more.

Give less to give more.

- Courtney Carver

Click over to read her post, A Guide to Simple Holidays for details on how to make the above thoughts happen … because you can!

Peace. It’s what everyone wants, especially beauty queens.

Peace. For many years it seemed invasive to me. I thought a day, a circumstance, an action, a person, a prayer, a moment, an event or something would make it happen. I thought if only I could get all the planets of my world aligned in a certain way then I would have peace.

With time I’ve come to realize that endless pursuit of perfection was bringing stress, not peace.

Peace. It is possible, but not as I thought before.

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Today I’m thankful for peace… especially when found in the tensions of life. 

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Over the past few years, I’ve changed my eating habits to take better care of my body.

I’m thankful for the peace I’ve found in that tension…
by saying no to good-tasting, familiar, but unhealthy foods,
I feel better and have more energy then I thought possible..

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Sometimes relationships have been a challenge for me. At times, I’ve felt like a failure as a wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter and more because I couldn’t be everything for everyone.

I’m thankful for the peace I’ve found in that tension…
by realizing I didn’t have to lose myself or change the other person,
but instead I need to allow them to be them and me to be me.

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After surviving a life-threatening accident, I spent years depressed because I didn’t know how to live with my new normal … pain, limitations and a deformed leg.

I’m thankful for the peace I’ve found in that tension…
by celebrating all the good that happened,
while being honest about the disappointments I now live with. 

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Post-accident, when my pain was severe, all the pain and suffering of the world overwhelmed me to the point of feeling helpless, because I knew others dealt with much more than I did.

I’m thankful for the peace I’ve found in that tension…
by realizing I can’t prevent or stop everyone’s pain and suffering,
but I can make life better for a few children around the world by sponsoring them.

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As I wrote about in a guest post at Rachel Held Evans’ site yesterday… right now I’m in a spiritual/religious funk and I have more questions and doubts than ever.

I’m thankful for the peace I’ve found in that tension…
by accepting that there will be mysteries in life I don’t understand,
while continuing to search and explore for a path that works for me.

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What are you thankful for today?

Over the past few years, I meet a writing friend, Rachel Held Evans online. Her writing has been a major help and comfort to me during my roller coaster spiritual/religious transition over the past few years.

Then I had the pleasure of meeting her this year and playing host through Amish country for her, when she came to this area to do research for her next project/book. And Rachel graciously read an early copy of Because I Can and then wrote a kind endorsement for it.

Today I have the honor of having a guest post on Rachel’s popular blog. In the post, I compare my running journey with my spiritual journey. 

Here are some excerpts from my post Pushing Through a Bad Run …

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How do the ups and downs of my recent runs compare with the spiritual roller coaster I’ve been on over the past few years? My beliefs have been in transition, which at times has been exhilarating and other times exhausting…

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A few days earlier I ran four miles with friends and I was ready to swear off running forever. I was tired, I hurt and I know my friends were ready to kill me because all I did was complain about my body, the weather and anything to do with running…

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I’ve been having a bad run. A bad run of faith and beliefs. I’m tired, I’m hurt and I know my friends are ready to kill me because all I do is complain about Christianity, churches and anything to do with religion…

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Go to Rachel’s blog to read the whole post … and then give me your advice. Yes, I’ve opened that door, the floor is yours … I need advice.

“This letter post is longer than usual because I lack the time to make it  shorter.”
- BlaisePascal

Though I took steps to prepare myself for the Philadelphia half-marathon over the past months … as the race weekend had approached, I wondered if I had done enough. I’m used to feeling slightly nervous before any race, so I tried to simply accept the feelings, instead of allowing them to sap my energy.

Since I was doing the race with the Runner’s World Challenge, I went to a shakeout run on Saturday morning led by Bart Yasso from Runner’s World (RW). I normally only do a mile or two walk the day before a race, but I did a 3-mile slow run with the other challengers because I didn’t want to stop early and appear wimpy. (darn pride)

Then I went to the Fitness Expo and walked a few hours to see everything and attend a few seminars. I know a lot about running, but I learned some very helpful tips from the RW staff. (will share in a future post) As I went to bed Saturday evening, I wondered how tough the race would be with all the exercise my legs had that day.

I slept fairly well, but woke up early. (normal before a race) I drank some coffee and ate a small portion of my normal breakfast … oatmeal with peanut butter, cinnamon and chia seeds. (A favorite since reading Born to Run)

I mixed up my sports drink that I’ve been using for the last year after trying Gatorade on long runs and not liking the sweet taste or the way it made my stomach feel. I made sure I had my Galloway timer, headphones and my phone. Instead of a watch, I use the Nike+ running app which tells me my pace and distance.

Then I drove to Philadelphia to join the other RW challengers for a breakfast at the Four Seasons. I drank water, sipped on a little coffee and nibbled on a bagel. Plus I used wonderful, clean porcelain toilets instead of smelly porta-pots. (perks of being in the RW challenge)

The Philadelphia Marathon ... empty starting area about 15 mins before the start

I’ve never done a race this large before, so the corral system was new to me. With 25,000 runners, they start the race in waves. When you register for the race, you give your estimated finish time, then you are given a certain color corral to be in with others that will be running a similar pace as you will.

As part of the RW Challenge I was supposed to be in the gray corral, but I knew most of the other challengers would be running faster than I would, so I went to the purple corral which was behind the gray corral.

The corrals were a farther walk from the hotel than I anticipated (darn detail I missed) and the crowds were already starting to move at a slow walk when I got there. I looked around for purple bids, but saw all different bid colors. I’m still not sure if I was in the right corral or not, but I met another challenger and we decided to start together.

We were still walking when we crossed the official start line. The crowds threw off my normal cool-calm-collected-race-starting routine and I think I started my running app a little before the starting line. 

Soon after the start, the road widen and the crowd started running. I felt like I was part of a giant worm that wound its way down the Ben Franklin Parkway. 

All the roads were closed with no parked cars along them and runners filled the streets for the whole race. We weren’t shoulder-to-shoulder, but once or twice I was almost hit in the face by someone’s arm when they tried to stretch their shoulder/arm/etc.  This was new to me as I’m used to running races where after a mile or two, runners might me in front and behind me, but not beside me.

With other runners all around me and spectators lining most of the route, the first few miles went past quickly and I didn’t even hear the distances/pace my app was telling me until a few miles into the race. I realized the distances weren’t quite lining up with the race markers (the difference increased the farther I ran) so I tried to forget about the distances and only focus on my average pace it gave me. (I was aiming for 11:30)

My timer was set for 5 minutes of running and 45 seconds of walking. I followed this about 80% of the time, always moving to the sidewalks when I walked because I didn’t want to walk in the middle of runners.

Around mile 4, my needy left leg started bothering me which made me realize I ran the first few miles too fast. (did mile 2 in 10:30) I slowed down and massaged my leg during my walking breaks. This helped somewhat.

I adjusted my walk/run times around mile 7 and mile 9 for some hills. I also adjusted my stride and how I landed because the bottom of my right foot (my good foot, don’t you fail me!) started bothering me around mile 8 or so.

Around mile 10, I was wondering why the heck I wasn’t home on the couch. 

Though I was totally exhausted, I managed to hold my desired pace during the last few miles by focusing on the running advice RW editor, David Willey gave us, “Run the mile you are in.”

It was discouraging to hear my running app tell me I’d run 13 miles, but according to the race markers I had almost 3/4 mile to go! I assume I started my app slightly early, but not that early. The race had many turns and apparently I don’t know how to take the shortest route, plus with moving to the sidewalk every 5 mins, I managed to add almost 3/4 mile to my race. 

The crowds of spectators lining the last mile gave me energy for a strong finish. As I crossed the finish line, I received a shout-out from Bart Yasso who was calling out the names of both half and full finishers. (Some of the elite runners did the full in the same time I did the half!)  

“My buddy Janet finishing strong.
Janet is running… because she can.”
- Bart Yasso

Finished!

My app told me I did 13.9 miles! Though I doubt if I started it a tenth of mile before the start, I’m going to assume that, so that means I did 13.8 miles. The racing bids had electronic chips in them that track your time from the second you cross the start line to the finish line. My official chip time was 2:36 … which means I averaged 11:30 per mile.

Which means this was my fastest half since the accident!

I’m so thankful that with regular exercise and healthy eating (most of the time) my body continues to get stronger.

Our bodies are amazing! And yours can do more than you think it can … so get moving!

Running might not be for you, but find something that you like, walking, hiking, biking, exercise classes, etc … just do it.

Because you can!

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If interested, Because I Can is a memoir of my recovery and my return to running. 

It’s Friday and on Sunday I’m running the Philadelphia half-marathon. This is the third of four half-marathons I’m running in less than a year. This is not an amazing feat compared to Dana Casanave who ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks, but it is amazing for my body considering the hell it has been through and that doctors didn’t know if I would even walk again.

I’m running it with the Runner’s World Challenge, so I’ve been getting a weekly email from Bart Yasso, (Chief Running Officer for Runner’s World) with great articles covering nutrition, apparel and more. Plus I had various training schedules to choose from based on my ability.

I feel prepared for the race… not quite on top of the world, but yet ready to do it. Since my last few months have been busy, with the release of Because I Can, I’ve only done about 80% of the workouts on my schedule, but since that is the standard rule of thumb to have a successful race, I think I’ll be fine.

Along with doing the required training runs, the week leading up to a race is important also. What I do or don’t do in the last week can make or break my race.

Other than a few short, easy runs earlier this week, I didn’t run a lot this week. I’ve found for my legs to be totally rested on race day, they need more rest in the days prior to a race then they did pre-accident.

Here’s some other important things I do leading up to a race…

Get enough sleep 
Drink plenty of water
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables 
Eat enough protein
Trim toenails (important!)
Stretch, stretch and stretch.

Stretching is important for everyone… and it’s especially crucial for a body like mine with so many injuries. If I don’t keep my legs stretched, I will feel it on race day. By feeling it, I mean about halfway through the race, my left leg will feel like it has a knot in it. This will progressively get worse, forcing me to walk more than run… and maybe even having to stop to massage and stretch it. I’ve had this happen during training runs when I didn’t prepare enough, so I’m doing my best to avoid that.

I did an hour of yoga on Wednesday and will do yoga again this afternoon. Plus I’ve been doing a few stretches most mornings and evenings all week.

A major benefit of the Runner’s World Challenge is the perks on race weekend.

First on my list of events is the Shakeout Run (the itinerary says it will be two to three miles, I plan to find a shortcut and only do an easy mile or two) on Saturday at 9am, with Bart Yasso and others from Runner’s World.

Later in the day, I’ll go to Health and Fitness Expo where I will probably take in more seminars than walking around so I don’t tire my legs. I will also meet more of the Runner’s World editors and experts at a PRERACE STRATEGY SESSION with them.

Then on race day, Runner’s World has a special lounge for all the challengers (about 300) indoors at the Four Seasons. Which means along with good pre and post race food, we get the most important thing available to a runner. Instead of standing outdoors in long lines to use smelly porta pots before the race… we will be using a private, indoor porcelain throne! (Now you’re jealous, right?)

I don’t know if I’ll be blogging over the weekend, but I plan to post real-time pictures on Facebook and Twitter and I’ll do a recap post of the weekend and race next week.

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Have you done a half or a full marathon?
If so, what advice do you have for the week or days before a race? 

We know this, but I’m going to say it again.

Check labels!

Every type of label.

I don’t often go to Fourbucks Starbucks, but I was there this morning, thanks to a gift certificate I won from The Whole Story Media Group. I was hoping I can find something other than a sugar-loaded pastry to eat, so I was happy to see their Bistro Boxes.

Cheese & Fruit Box

Protein Box

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I feel best when I eat protein in the morning, so my eyes were drawn to the protein box on the left. But then I saw the Cheese & Fruit Box and since I love cheese, that appealed more to me.

I glanced back at the Protein Box and saw cheese in there also, so I knew that was my best choice. After all, it’s a Protein Box and I need protein. As I looked closer, I saw the Protein Box only had white cheddar cheese, not the Brie, Gouda and two-year aged cheddar cheeses  that the other box had.

So the internal dialogue began. I need to get the protein one. It’s not about taste, it’s about being healthy. Remember you’re doing a half-marathon on Sunday. You need to eat well all week. So therefore the protein box is the right choice.

But I know myself well enough to know that I would be annoyed while eating the bland cheddar cheese in the protein box instead of the Brie, Gouda and two-year aged cheddar cheeses  in the other box.

But I like Brie and Gouda and aged two years will make the cheddar so much better. And almonds… there’s almonds in it. I love almonds. 

Thankfully there were a few people in line in front of me, so I continued the mental match. Do what is best for your body, Janet! It’s not about taste, it’s about health! Just think of all the hungry children around the world who would be happy to have anything to eat. 

The wrestling continued and a new thought emerged…  Wait, cheese and almonds have protein. There has to be a fair amount of protein in the non-protein-labeled box also. 

But they call one a Protein Box, so it has to have more protein than the one simply called a Cheese & Fruit box… right?

I picked up both boxes and within a second my dilemma was solved.

Protein Box - 13g protein

Cheese & Fruit Box - 18g protein.

The Cheese & Fruit box had more protein and less sugar than the Protein box!

What the …??

Starbucks, what are you doing??

Granted the Cheese & Fruit Box had 100 more calories, but since I’m doing a half-marathon on Sunday, I’m not really concerned about calories this week. Plus I don’t like the taste or texture of dried cranberries, so I wouldn’t be eating those which probably took care of the extra calories.

So I happily picked up my desired Cheese & Fruit Box and enjoyed every morsel of it, especially the Brie, Gouda and two-year aged cheddar cheeses.

So check your food labels, you might be surprised what you find. 

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As I ate (and wrote) I couldn’t help think about other things in life with labels, whether it’s labels others or I give them. Are the labels always accurate? Or are labels simply an easy way to categorize things?

Just because something has a label, it may or may not mean it is any different than something else with a different label.

And what about people… and the labels we too readily give them? Are the labels accurate? Do they actually mean what we think they mean?

After today, I’m more determined than ever to look beyond any label a person does or does not ‘wear’ and find out who they really are. I’m assuming I’ll be pleasantly surprised at what I find, just as I was when I looked beyond the non-protein label.

I block the spot where sand has started to flow.
Not a grain escapes anymore.

I take a deep breath grateful that I stopped that danger in its tracks.

Until… sand begins to flow from a gap on the other side.

I twist and turn trying to stop the flow of that sand.

I manage to stop it for a time, but then a force causes some sand to squeeze out on the other side again. In vain I try to stop the flow on both sides.

Sand gets on me… irritating my skin. When I reach over to brush it off, I inadvertently loosen my hold on the flowing sand.

The sand flows freely.

I watch it go.

I’ve been annoyed. Frustrated. Tired of trying to stop the sand from flowing.

So now, I’m content to watch it flow.

Then I remember what I’ve been told about the danger of allowing any sand to flow freely.

If you allow any sand to flow … it will all flow.

I jump back into action. I need to stop this before it gets worse! I study how to stop the flow of sand. How to prevent it from escaping. How to counteract it. How to make it all stay put.

And again I stop the flow of the sand.

I’m miserable, anger and annoyed, but for a time, there isn’t a damn grain of sand flowing anywhere. I have no time to help others or to enjoy life because stopping the sand takes all my time and energy.

Until…

Until some moment in life causes a few tectonics plates to shift and a few grains of sand escape. Followed by a few more… and more.

I watch the sand begin to flow again.

With a touch of concern, but not enough to try to stop it.

Then I realize that I also feel relief.

Relief? I didn’t expect to feel that.

I enjoy that feeling for a time, then something nudges me… reminding me that I shouldn’t be enjoying the feeling of relief. Relief is a bad feeling. A feeling I shouldn’t allow myself to get used to. Relief will deceive me into complacent living and ruin my life. I must continue to contort myself into almost impossible positions to stop the sand from flowing out.

I remember the dire words of warning… if any sand is allowed to flow, your foundation will not be strong. And it will cause you to lose everything you’ve built over the years. Your life will have no meaning if you don’t cling tightly to all the sand.

I study what’s happening. I explore my feeling of relief. The relief brings a measure of peace and even hope with it. I like it. And I wonder if I would feel even more relief if I allow the sand to flow. Instead of being threaten by flowing sand, maybe I will find some value and beauty in it.

I take a deep breath and lift my hands.

The sand flows freeing… and it is beautiful.

I look around to make sure that I’m still alive. That the world is still upright. That I still love and care. That life continues.

I’m pleasantly surprised to find that everything continues as before. The trees are tall and strong. The flowers are blooming. The birds are singing. An airplane flies overheard. I still love my husband, my sons and others.

So sand can flow and life is still okay?

Since I’ve quit worrying about what sand is flowing where, I see more beauty, feel more joy and have more energy to focus on others around me. 

I could get used to this…

I like coffee … especially in the winter (on a related note, I do not like winters in PA)

I’ve often heard or read that drinking caffeinated beverages causes dehydration. And even though caffeinated drinks contain water, that water doesn’t really help you because it’s counter-acted by the caffeine. As a runner, I wondered about this, because I know how crucial staying hydrated is for my energy levels, especially during a long run. I was happy to discover recently…

That’s a myth.

Not healthy!

According to a review in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics …

Drinking normal levels of caffeinated beverages does not cause a net dehydration effect. The mild diuretic effect of caffeine is offset by the large amount of water in the caffeinated beverage.

Note: the key word is normal … if you are drinking a full pot of coffee by yourself, you will probably see negative results from it.

But if you enjoy a cup or two to get going in the morning … stop thinking that it is bad for you.

The stress of worrying that the caffeine is bad for you is worse for you than the caffeine is.

The same holds true for drinking a soda every now and then. If you enjoy soda occasionally, the caffeine won’t dehydrate you. But if you’re drinking a 6-pack of soda a day… you will probably see negative results.

Our bodies are amazing and as long as we drink plenty of water, we should be able to handle some caffeine without causing dehydration.

Moderation is where it’s at.

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What are your thoughts on caffeine’s effect on staying hydrated?