Get Back up...

Yeah - I could think of 100 different things about getting knocked down & getting back up again...

So much in that idea & that sentence...

But I really think God was preparing me for the "trip up" that happened to me on the Half Marathon last weekend.

How so?

I saw this video come into my email a few days ago... & I watched it... & I watched it & watched it again.

It is a-MAZ-ing...

A 2:39 video that shows a girl who has trained so hard for a race... only to trip & fall...

But she gets back up again...

and she WINS!!!! (Sorry if I gave the ending away... it's still amazing to watch...)

But truly, I watched this video like every day over the past few days... & when I had my incident Saturday, I honestly thought about it...it came to mind... & I had to laugh that God made sure I had this image in my mind when sometime similar happened to me.

Believe me, I didnt think it meant I was going to WIN the race... but I did win MY race... the one that I was in against myself... the one that had one devil on my shoulder saying, "Call someone to pick you up - this race is done" ... & the angel on the other shoulder saying "Get up - you can finish strong"

... so watch this video... & know when you get knocked down in life (& you WILL... again & again) - be encouraged to know whatever race you're in... you CAN stand back up... & you CAN finish & win!!!



(If you're reading in Reader - you cant see the video... go ahead... come to the site to watch the video - its worth your time) ;)

My 3rd Half Marathon... what an EXPERIENCE!!!

I'M ALIVE!!!! ...  & I think the only down side of this race is a blister the size of a half dollar in the CENTER of my right foot (OUCH).... & a sun burn.  Ricky looked at me when I met him for lunch afterwards & he was like "Whooooooo - I didnt know you freckled so bad" ... Hello Mr. Sun - thank you for aging me.

But it was a half marathon full of experiences.  How can it not be when you're surrounded by 15,000 other runners (doesnt that blow your mind? 15,000... it blows my mind everytime I see every person running, hear the pounding of their feet)

As most of you know - I was nervous about it.  And thank you sweet friends for the encouragement... you have no idea how much it meant to me.

(Getting ready to leave... everyone still sleeping in my house - even the dogs... but I'm ready to get this party started!)

I got up early on race day, gave myself time to not have to rush... I drove downtown, found a parking garage that was semi-close.  I always have to laugh when its another few miles to & from my car after a race...but I got to the starting line right as they were setting off the wheelchair racers.  Then it was 2 minutes till we were off... no time wasted for me. 

The gun goes off & I'm across the start line... going pretty well - going fast - feeling GREAT.  It was a beautiful morning!  The sun was shining, the sky was blue - there were even hot air balloons flying overhead for the Hot Air Balloon race that was also going on at the same time.  What a way to start the race....

Then it happened...

2.68 miles in... Why do I know that exact mile?  Because I saw it on my watch as I was down on the ground... yes.. THE GROUND.

So what happened?  It was some tight running on some of these downtown streets - well, some guy (Mr.Jerk is what I now call him) came up behind me - his foot caught my shoe from behind causing my shoe to literally FLY OFF my foot, causing me to trip...luckily, I was on the side of the road.  If I went down in the middle of the crowd, I would have been TRAMPLED.  First thing I did was to make sure nothing was twisted - or even broken.  I brushed myself off & then went to find my shoe... which 15,000 runners were trampling... & how do you jump in front of them to retrieve it? 

No one helped... Mr. Jerk didnt even say he was sorry - just looked at me as I went down & kept on running. Geez people... ever hear of manners?

I finally retrieved my shoe - went to the sidewalk & sat down to put it on.  As I put it on, all the nerves I felt over the past few days just kicked in.... I couldnt believe this just happened to me.  Time - PRECIOUS TIME - was just clicking right by while I'm trying to find my stupid shoe & get it back on. 

I get it laced up & then get back in the flow of people... but my spirit was crushed a little.  I kept thinking about how this just ruined my whole race... my pace was off - my spirit was stepped on.... & not to mention, I was scared to death someone else was going to run into me again.  (Which by the way, someone ran so close to me on mile 9 they knocked my water bottle out of my hand.... am I invisible?)

I had to laugh because the very next song on my ipod was Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush "DONT GIVE UP".... "Dont give up - I know you can make it...." Thank you Lord for simple small blessings. 

I told myself this isnt about anything but me finishing so I got my pep back in me.  It helped that I ran into a running friend at mile 4 who was running his first marathon.  Seeing the pride on his face made me snap back into shape....

... & I did decent... end up making up some time after the fall... never really hit "the wall" this race & just enjoyed the rest of the run.

I got to mile 10 & saw a lady who looked a little worn.  I looked at her & said "We're almost there"... next thing I know, she ran up to me & said, "You're my partner to the end"... we ended up talking about church, youth ministry, her 14 yr old daughter, friends - who we ended up actually having in COMMON - (how funny is that?!?!) .  She told me "I seriously prayed to God for help to get me through the last few miles because I'm struggling so bad & then you came"... & we finished it together... finished strong on that last quarter mile too!  GO ALLISON.. great meeting you!

But I felt better then ever in a half marathon... I actually SPRINTED to the end.  The first year, I was almost CRAWLING.. the 2nd year, my legs were like lead... this year, I SPRINTED!  (I even ran back to the parking garage at the end... wh wh what?!?!?... training works I guess)

I ended up taking off about 14 minutes off my time from last year (YIPEE!!!) - but I didnt hit my goal.  I wanted to get under 3 hours (yes, I know I'm slow... I'm ok with that - gotta remember, my first year was at 3:45) & I came in at 3:06 ... 6 minutes off!!! 6 MINUTES!  And I just kept thinking that if that "shoe incident" didnt happen, I woulda made it... Yes, I sat & pouted for a little bit.  DANG IT!  6 MINUTES!  UGH!!!!!!!... oh well, at least I have a goal for next year already.

I then walked up to watch some of the other finishers only to find my friend's wife waiting her husband while he was knocking out his first full marathon.  I decided to wait with his family & watch him come in.... & I got to see so many wonderful people cross the finish line.  People crossing with pain on their face - people who looked like they were on a stroll - people who had their kids run the last little bit to the finish line with them... it was awesome... & then, the topper of it all...

I see a young man in a wheelchair - a team of people around him.  They stop the wheelchair... they bring him a walker & he STANDS UP... & he ends up WALKING to the finish line.  It was slow.... it looked painful... he was struggling... but he MADE IT!  And the crowd went NUTS!  I just about lost it... I was so inspired.

(sorry - taken with my horrible cell phone... but had to snap this amazing young man!)

Then it happened again.. & again... & again... about 15 times, I saw different people, different ages... all starting in a wheel chair - get up at a point & walk across the finish line.

Ends up, they were all with the Reeves Foundation - formed from Christopher Reeves for people with spinal cord injuries.  Somehow, I ended up next to the lady in charge of this organiztion & we got talking about it.  All of these people flew in just for this race, along with their physical therapists & the people who work with them to get them back on their feet....

Can you say "INSPIRATION"?  What I am whining about my shoe flying off - or loosing a few minutes - when you see these people who dont care about time - just walking across the finish line - no matter what.  I have never seen anything like it... & was so blessed I was there...

Then finally, here came my friend Corey... running for 6 hours, he finished his first full marathon.  I loved seeing his kids run to the gates with their signs & his wife screaming for her husband... It was an honor to witness a friend accomplish such a big goal...

So in the end - it turned out to be a great day.  I saw inspiration all around me actually all day... everything I mentioned, plus little things....

*  A father who was running with his son who was visually impaired... leading him with a band... so cool!

*  Residents of a nursing home sitting in front of their building with their pom poms - so full of smiles & encouragement

* A lady in a wheelchair who was on the side of the road who looked so terribly sad watching everyone... it made me run harder thinking of people who cant run... how blessed I am...

* A man handing out free White Castle sandwiches to runners... & people actually TAKING & EATING them while eating.  (I gagged a bit watching them)

* The University of Louisville campus full of people with shirts that said, "If you're still running, we're still drinking" ... & boy, they sure were.  We had to pass them up on the way down & then again back up & yep, they were STILL drinking.  Remember, this was before 10 am.... they werent stingy either - they were passing out beers to runners who wanted them also

* They have "free beer" tickets on the bottom of the racing bib (...why?  I dont know...) - but a guy was running with a sign on his back that said, "If you dont want your free beer - give me your ticket" - & he was racking up.  He's probably STILL down there drinking beers...

* A sign someone was holding that was my favorite:  "Hey you - complete stranger! I'm proud of you!" ...I even yelled to her that was the best sign all day!

*  The running Elvis's - or Running Elvi as they are known - are always a fun favorite

*  Two ladies were running the FULL MARATHON in Gone with the Wind dresses!  They even had on the bonnets to complete the outfit!!!

* Running into my gorgeous Jazzercise instructor at the end of the race... she's the sweetest, most encouraging lady ever!!!

It really is an experience to be a part of... I've heard the saying, "If you want to WIN a race, run a 100 meter... if you want to EXPERIENCE a race, do a marathon" ... I agree.  Experience is so much part of it... I highly recommend the experience to anyone.

...just make sure you can deal with blisters & sunburns afterwards...

Project 365... 2011: Week 18

Sunday - April 24 - Easter Sunday .... It was a busy day.  I was blessed to do the communion message in our church for Easter so I had to be there for all 3 services.  And two of those services, we had Jr. High Youth Classes... I'm glad we did - it was fun spending Easter with these awesome kiddos.  Here is a picture of one of the games we played... they got their arms criss-crossed & they had to "unravel" without breaking hands... talk about a "close" & "get to know you" kinda game :)

Monday - April 25 - Day after Easter ... you know what that means?  50% off Cadbury Eggs.... Oh sweet chocolate, heavenly bliss.... If I see any that last until 75% off, I'll buy every one of them & freeze them up to last through the year.  Its my favorite piece of chocolate around... probaby a good thing its only once a year its out.

Tuesday - April 26 - Rain, Rain, Go Away.... The rain is CRAZY... & not just rain but STORMS.  I know its nothing like some of the other areas that got smashed with tornados.  We're suffering from flooding though.  CRAZY flooding.  I snapped this sitting on the bridge & you can see even from a distance how high the river is.  Those are actual light poles that line the waterfront park in downtown Louisville. 

Wednesday - April 27 - Buffy headed to the Vet .... she's been having problems with her ears.  We've been flushing her ears for 3 days & it wasnt getting any better so we took her to make sure everything was OK.  Just a ear infection... like I posted on Facebook, "Like Mother... like "dog"hter" .... she always has ear infections just like me... poor thing.  We just have to keep her from scratching her ears - she even gets the skin bleeding where she scratches so hard.  OUCH!!!!  Poor girl hates the vet though.  You can see how anxious she is wating for the door to open.

Thursday - April 28 - A week's difference.... remember my picture in last week's Project 365 of that beautiful flower that bloomed? Yeah - this is it... one week later & its already died.  I thought it still held beauty though...

Friday - April 28 - A Fairy Tale come to life... yep, I got up early & watched the ceremony.  But it was still going on when I had to leave for work.  Thank goodness for the modern age where they play events live on the internet.  I was able to watch the carraige ride & the KISS on the balcony on my computer at work.  So sweet... so beautiful... every little girls dream

Saturday - April 30 - 3rd Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon ... yep - I lived... my 3rd half marathon.  And it didnt happen without drama (of course not...) - I've got a post coming tomorrow with the whole experience of the race.  But you can see here the end result... I lived... & I have my 3rd half marathon medal.  It makes me so proud to wear around my neck when you cross that finish line... Gotta find another race now to enter - I feel  a tad lost now that its over...

Hope you all have had a good week... full of safety from storms...

Royal Wedding... again...

I remember being a little girl.

My mom waking me up early in the morning telling me, "This is history - you'll want to see this"

... & I did... because it was every little girls dream.

A lady in a beautiful gown... marrying a prince... becoming a real life princess.

And I still remember everything about that wedding.

& here it is so many years later.... that Princess has now left this world... her son has grown up & it was his wedding day.

I got up early to watch it before I had to leave for work. 

Ricky kept saying, "I dont understand why anyone cares".... such a man...

When they showed Kate riding in the car with her dad & they said, "This is the last time a father rides with just his daughter... he will watch her become the future Queen of England" .... I got chills

& when William wouldnt turn to look at his bride & they said, "Everyone has now seen the dress... everyone except William.  He is last in the world to see his bride"... who knew William was such a romantic... I got all teary eyed... while Ricky just laughed at me & told me not to be late to work...

I have to say - I expected a wedding dress more in the style of what her sister wore...

But how elegant.  I instantly thought of Grace Kelly myself & then all the comparisons came...

She definitely looked elegant... regal... royal...

I dont know if I'll be alive when William & Kate's child gets married... but if I am, I'll get up & watch again.  Even with Ricky laughing at me....

...now I'm just waiting at my desk at work for that balcony kiss...

I hope "Happily Ever After" is in the future for these two....

Did you watch?  What did you think of the dress?  And how crazy were some of those hats?  (Yes, I'm speaking to you Fergie's daughters... wow!!!)

At a distance...

(This is part of the communion message I did for Easter.... so Happy Late Easter)

Ever have a child so excited to run into a toy store - or a playground?

I took my nieces to a toy store & one was off quick.  So many choices - so much to look at - so much to PLAY with..  No time to stand around!  Gotta get to the business of toy-hunting!

I could see her, I never let her out of my sight.... but she was just so excited, she kept running ahead.  Too excited to care how far apart we were from each other.

The distance was getting wider between us...

Then she turned around... but she didnt see me.  There were other people, other children, toys in her way - distracting her from my face at the end of the aisle.

... & I saw panic...

Panic because she felt lost.  Panic because she felt alone.

I even said her name, but the distance must have been too wide for her to hear my voice.  And maybe the panic prevented her from hearing her name...

I ran through the crowd & she saw me coming & relief instantly came across that face... I was there all along.

The Bible says that when Jesus was arrested,

"Peter followed at a distance...." - Luke 22:54

Here is a man who was near Jesus... & then pulled away...putting distance between he & Jesus. 

Did that distance cause him to panic?  Not to hear Jesus anymore? 

Obviously it did because next thing we see is Peter denying Jesus...3 times...

... oh how the distance must have felt wide...

Did he feel paniced?  Did he feel alone & lost? 

But Jesus came to him... 3 days later... Peter saw him - heard his voice...

what relief he must have felt...

Jesus died... rose again... conquered death so that there doesnt HAVE to be a distance between  us....

I pray I never run so far away that I dont hear His voice... see His face...

13.1 in 3 days for the 3rd time ... that's a LOT of 3's!!!

3 days... it'll be my 3rd time...

my 3rd time running a half marathon.... 13.1 miles...

I'm excited... but nervous...

Excited because I've put in lots of training.  Since the beginning of this year, I'm down 23 pounds - I've got faster times - I feel stronger.  I actually feel like a "runner" at times...

Nervous because I've missed the final 2 and a half weeks of my training... Julie & the boys were up, then I got sick... & I know this is a tapering part of the training anyways - I'm not supposed to be running long distances - but I feel like I havent ran at all... I havent even gotten in my normal 5 miles that I like to run every other day... so I'm nervous how my body is going to react.  Especially because I'm still a little weak from being sick.  I'm hoping adrenaline is what pushes me.

I look back at the first half marathon I ran.  Do you know that was my FIRST RACE EVER?  What was I thinking? A half marathon?  Am I crazy?!?!?!  I didnt even really train that well for it... & I swear, I almost died doing it.  I'm not even joking.  When I hit mile 8, if Ricky wasnt with me on that run, I know I would have laid down & passed out in a crying heap... I'm not even joking... it was BAD...

But I crossed the finish line.. a weak, crying, unable-to-move MESS... but I did it..

They gave me my first medal & it was like a switch was thrown on...

(Me at the finish of my first race... that medal changed my life)

I knew instantly I was going to do it again... even when I couldnt move, I knew I'd do it again, BETTER...

& I did...

Last year, I ran it alone.  & I felt better & I finished better.  I wasnt even sore at the end!  The only injury was the loss of my big toe nail.  Yucky - but a badge of honor in my book.

And I crossed the finish line, got another medal, & knew I would do it again the next year....

So here we are...

I'm praying I'm stronger then ever... I'm hoping the training shows me what a difference time makes, even as I've aged a few years.... I'm praying I dont get discouraged when I see everyone passing me... I'm hoping my body finds strength I didnt even know it had.

I have crossed every finish line alone since that first race... with no one waiting on the other side... it's just been me & me alone... I see husbands/wives, family member or friends meeting each other at the finish line.  Rooting them on... For me, its different - I cross the finish line & I get my medal & I walk to my car...just me... but I'm praying that when I cross the finish line again this year, I am proud of myself... and I'll remember its just a race between me & myself anyways...


...& then on the walk back to my car, I'll think about doing it again the next year....

Bohannon Boys...

Here are some of the pictures of the boys that I took of the boys while they were up...

These are actually all taken at the property that my church owns... it was perfect location for a shoot, dont you think?

(I know some computers make the pictures smaller/bigger... so if you want a closer look of the picture,

just click on it & you can see it larger)

I think this is one of my favorites... they are both in awe of the Ironman toy...

Can you get over those blue eyes????

The dandelions kept making Lucas laugh ... so we kept asking Isaac to give one to his brother. 

Made for a perfect picture

See?  It never got old...

Brothers... laughing... doesnt get better then that...

Which one is your favorite?  I'm trying to figure out which ones are going into frames around the house ... the hard decisions of life...

Project 365... 2011: Week 17

April 17 - Sunday - Time to say goodbye.... we took Julie & the boys to the airport.  Here they are waiting in the airport... Isaac with his new toy... & see Luke back there on Ricky? He was sicker then a dog.. he had a fever & just wanted to be held & wanted to sleep.  I felt so bad for him!  Then it was time to go & Mr. Isaac did NOT want to go.  It was awful... horrible... words dont even explain.  Ricky had to get a security pass to be able to help Julie get both boys to the gate.  I wasnt even sure they were going to let him on the plan because he just kept screaming.  Oh my... this was just a bad day...

April 18 - Monday - Tax Day .... Back to work & back to routine... & this was tax day.  I work in accounting, so it was a day full of cutting checks, writing envelopes, getting paperwork together... Whew...Busy day back!

April 19 - Tuesday - Its BLOOMIN' - after 16 months!!!! .... a co-worker got this plant for me LAST Christmas - yes, Christmas 2009.  It grew leaves but never bloomed.  All the leaves died off & I repotted it & more leaves came out immediately & this time, I got BLOOMS!  And this plant is amazing.  Like literally, at the beginning of last week, the stalk with the flowers wasnt even there.  Its like you can sit & watch it grow... so when I walked in & saw these huge blooms open, I was shocked.  It was a nice way to start a morning...

April 20 & April 21 - Wednesday & Thursday - UGGHHHH!!!!!! .... I could feel something coming on actually Sunday.  But it was staying off... until Tuesday night... & then it kicked in full force on Wednesday & Thursday.  My ears were killing me.  And I was told when my ears hurt, sinus medicine helps.  But my throat was like razor blades were just laying along the lining of my throat, so I downed BAGS of halls drops.... I'm not a good sick person.

April 22 - Friday - No Picture.... I had to take my dad to the hospital & it was too early to even think of a camera.  We got him home & I ended up napping... Headed to church for Good Friday service & was so caught up in the service to think about snapping a picture... it was a busy, tiring, hectic day... & no camera... I'm a failure...

April 23 - Saturday - Where's Noah? .... My goodness - we have been hit with some MASSIVE storms.  I'm talking about storms this week that had us sleeping in the basement a few times during the week.  And now, the results of all the storms - FLOODS.  Our roads are hilly & the water is ponding BADLY.  I ran out to get new running shoes & this was just one SMALL area of our road.  (The only safe place for me to stop & take a picture actually) .... most of the road looked like a LAKE... I've never seen it this bad around here before in my life... I kept waiting to see animals meet up 2x2...

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter Weekend!!!

I do plan on posting more pictures of the boys this week... so be prepared :)

Good Friday service draining my tear ducts...

I havent ran away from my blog... I've been sick... BLAH!

Yep - another ear infection.  It was in both ears, down my jaws, into my throat... it was fierce. Still is, kinda.  When I go to drink anything, its like acid is going down my throat. Sounds like fun, huh? But it is better.

Yes - I'm still working on pictures of the boys... I literally havent had my computer on in the past few days...

I was able though to be get well enough to join our church's Ensemble for our Good Friday service.  Just got home actually.  I was able to do a song in sign language while a quartet sang.  It was to Avalon's "Adonai"... one of my favorites... but its always so fun to worship God in that way.  I just close my eyes & its just me & God & let the hands fly....
The service was beautiful though... I was literally sitting in the front row bawling my eyes out at one point. 

Someone sang the song by Nicole Norderman, "Why" ... my goodness...the part where Jesus is crying out to God... & then the part where God is talking to Jesus?  ... Just stop it... its a heart breaker... & then add in the last line  .... OK - where's the Kleenex again.

Follow that up with another fantastic singer belting out a Ray Boltz song, "Do you still feel the nails, every time I fail...." - is church trying to see how dry my tears ducts can get? 

It was a beautiful sermon though...

A way to start into the wonderful, blessed day that is Easter....

I'm off to take some more medicine for the pressure in my ears & head to bed early...

I hope you all got to worship some way & reflect on what Good Friday is all about....

And if you want to get some kleenex & join in the crying, just watch this...

"My precious Son, I hear them screaming...

I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming...

Soon I will clothe you with robes of my own...

Jesus, this hurts me more than you know....

But this dark hour, I must do nothing,

thought I've heard your unbearable cry....

The power in your blood destroys all their lies

soon you'll see past their unmericiful eyes

Look there... see below the child...

trembling by her father's side...

now I can tell you why....

.....she is why you must die...."

who knew cutting the grass was so fun?

Ricky needed to cut the grass...

Isaac was a little intimated by the riding lawn mower - but we have a little daredevil who has NO FEAR in Luke - so we wanted to see how he did riding on Pappy's lap....

Does this tell you anything?  No - that's not a scary scream... that is a GUT LAUGH on his face.  We could hear him laughing over the sound of the lawn mower...especially on the hills... even more so on the DOWN HILL parts...

He was pointing at everything they would ride by & go "ohhhhh" - so when Ricky pointed at me, Luke pointed right along.... I may have even got an "ohhhh" .... is this the cutest picture?

And while that was going on... I got to play Hide & Seek with Isaac.... who hides like an ostrich.  Hide his face behind a newspaper & you cant see him - right?

(I love the sunlight in his hair)

Sydney even got to sit out front with us. She's the only one we can give that privilege on most days... the others want to run around & get lost... not Syd ... she's a good Country Dog who is happy just laying on the front porch watching the world go by.

(This was the day before Syd got shaved down too... all that hair?  Now gone!!!... she's much happier)

Isaac still didnt want a turn on the lawn mower... instead he just sat next to his mommy waiting for his brother to get off that loud contraption...

I think the next time Ricky has to mow the grass, he's going to miss all this company.....