Day 6: #SharingStreak Amy Noll

Amy Noll with her Grandpa Whitworth who fought with the Marines in Okinowa and earned the Purple Heart. Amy is also running with Inheritance of Hope in the Marine Corps Marathon! 

Many of you know my deep friendship with Amy Noll as documented through my blog and well--LIFE.

She is one of my closest friends and I can't imagine life without her. She, along with my other bestie Jenn ran that NYC Marathon last year with Inheritance of Hope. Amy has signed up AGAIN with IOH in the Marine Corps Marathon. She is ALSO fundraising but donated to ME. What a friend!

So here is her #sharingstreak story:

Who- My Opa,  Lloyd Whitworth.

Why-  He joined the Marine Corps when he was 17 and fought in World War 2. He received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during the Okinawa Campaign during WW2 while serving with the 6th Marine Division.

While he was technically my 'step-grandpa' I never knew the difference. He was a quiet man but was the hardest worker I have ever known. He also loved to hunt and was an excellent marksman. He passed away in January of this year at the age of 89 and there is definitely a hole in all of our hearts with the loss. My youngest brother, John, when he was in high school used to volunteer his weekends to participate in WW2 reenactments near our hometown in Texas in which Opa would go. It was a family affair. While Opa never talked much about when he was in the Marines, he certainly stood a little taller and walked a little prouder when he would go to the reenactments. 

Where I find peace through trying times- Definitely Jesus. His fingerprints are all over my life and I cannot deny how much he loves and cares for me. And also nature. Mountains in particular. All my cares and stress just melt away.

How- In my short 25 years my family has experienced several intense close losses and looking back we  have been cared for every step of the way. 

Quote-my favorite right now- I have two... "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."     -Theodore Roosevelt  

'Nature desires us to hear and see the great story of God's love to which it points.' -Henri Nouwen

Pump up song- anything Pitbull. Most notably 'Don't Stop The Party.' Cause it's fun to run to.

Just a reminder about what the #sharingstreak is all about: I am fundraising for families with terminal illnesss for the charity Inheritance of Hope for the Marine Corps Marathon. 

For time period between Memorial Day and 4th of July, I am running at least a mile a day. I am asking for donations to IOH and will share the stories of the donors on my blog. The stories can be stories of hope through cancer, loss, or of military service ideally. 

If you would like to make a donation, that can be done here-----> Inheritance of Hope. 

Craving Grace

The New York City Marathon is only 25 days away. 

Last year I was posting like a maniac about the marathon. It was all I could think about and all I was focused on. 

This year is different. 

I think it has to do with how the race went last year. I learned so many lessons from how I ran that race but the most important one was that I finished. Even though I felt like I was going to die. And I trained like an animal. 

So this year, I am still training. Very hard. Diligently. With focus. But with joy. With laughter. With friendship. Not solo. And it isn't as much about how I am hoping to finish but how I hope to run the race. It seems altogether different. 

I believe that is what Jesus wants us to know in life too. It isn't about the finish, but about the life we get to live now. I read this quote from Abraham Lincoln and it has meant so much to me in this time of training, 

"In the end, it is not the years in a life, but the life in the years." 

That rings so true to me for this marathon training but also for the families that we are raising money for with Inheritance of Hope. 

They don't have years to have life together. They have to live right now. 

It puts life in perspective. And we need to be graceful with each other and ourselves. To take care of what we have and who is around us. To not miss the moments by trying to reach some obscure finish line that isn't really there.

The last three months have been amazing. I have loved the training, discipline and deep friendship that has come from running for hours alongside my best friends. When you have little guys at home, there is almost nothing you won't do for two uninterrupted hours of chatting with your friends. So running it is! I mean-we have run y'all. Here are the numbers:

Since August 1st we have run 285 miles, in 50 hours, 34 minutes. And burned 29,694 calories.

This has been work, but it has been so much fun! 

And I've gotten to see the better side of me and to hear more clearly about how I've been made to give my life away so others can know how precious they are. 

I'm so grateful to have met my fundraising goal due to the generosity of others. But Jenn and Amy still have a ways to go. I'd love to encourage you to give money to their funds. 

Please remember, this isn't money going to us, it is going to families that are suffering with terminal illness. It is easy to give to these families. It is simply that we are fundraising on their behalf. 

Their race against illness is MUCH harder than this silly 26.2 marathon that we are running. We run because they can't. They are doing what they can to simply love their families while they can. 

Help us give them the trip that they can't during one of the their final years. Just look around. You know someone who was just diagnosed with cancer. Or who has been fighting for a long time. They can't possibly pay for a vacation. These families need a break. 

$25 or $50 will add up quickly. I promise! Even if you don't know Jen or Amy, go donate. It will be the biggest blessing to them AND YOU. 

Here is the link to Amy's page. 

Here is the link to Jen's page. 

We run in 25 days y'all! 

Run the Mile You're In-QUICK RACE RECAP

A few bullet point pieces of advice that I heard before the marathon:

• Don't walk around the city too much. You'll leave your best miles while sight seeing.
• Be careful with food and drink. It's easy to get distracted with the city lights and sights. 
• Stick with the plan you made before the race. Don't let race day emotions get the best of you. Stick to the plan. 
• Run the mile you are in. Don't get ahead of yourself. Don't think about the past. Just run one mile at a time. 

Well. I botched all of that. 

I didn't know it at the time. 

I thought I was being careful. But in retrospect, I walked WAY too many miles in the city. I drank hardly any water (compared to at home). On race day, I threw away my water bottle at the start. I planned to carry water with me for the first 10 miles because I didn't want to fool with the water stations. But I got jumpy and tossed it.  The last bit of advice I had to follow: run the mile you are in. Only during the last 6 miles of the race. Because I had no choice. 

When you know you hate water stations and you don't really sweat in general, it's a bad idea to throw away a water bottle. And a really bad idea to not drink anything for the first eight miles of a 26 mile race. That's what I did. I was so focused and so happy to be running, I just RAN! And didn't drink anything. 

NYPD Police Helicopter just being bad a** and doing its thing. I had to stop and take a picture. 

I saw Matt, my sister and brother and the kids at mile 8 and was thrilled. The crowds were amazing! It was incredible. I was booking and feeling good! I left them and kept trucking and took a gu. It hit my stomach like a ton of bricks. I realized then I might be a in a little bit of trouble. I started looking for water stations and for people handing out bananas. My calf started cramping a little. Not a big deal. But worrisome. 

I kept on going, started hitting the water stations and taking on gatorade. 

We went through some awesome neighborhoods in Brooklyn, then hit Queens. Went across the bridge into Manhattan which I was so looking forward to. Mile 16. It was supposed to be the highlight of the race. Literally your "fastest mile". 

I was crashing. I was looking for my crew of supporters and only saw them after I passed by. I was so sad. I saw the Inheritance of Hope cheer crew on the other side of the street and couldn't get over. 

Any juice I had in me was gone.

I took on another gu and my stomach started cramping. 

I made it two more miles to 18 and couldn't go anymore. My legs and lungs were fine. But I was bent over with back spasms. This has never happened before! 

I walked for a minute or two and then people started yelling at me. "Leslie-let's go!" "Run for HOPE Leslie!"

Yep. They got a picture of me suffering. And that guy NOT suffering. 

I picked myself up and kept going. But slowly. Everytime I came through a water station, it killed my momentum and I had to stop. Stretch out my back and take a minute. Then classic New Yorkers would start yelling at me again.  I ripped off the pace wristband I was wearing to encourage me to finish in 3:40. That was long gone.

So I got going. 

But then I hit Central Park. Mile 24. 

I really thought I couldn't go anymore. I stopped. One girl running actually hit me on the back and yelled at me "You're a charity runner?! Get going!" I mean-New Yorkers are no joke on how hard they are on you. 

Right after that, a kind man looked at me and said, "It's okay Leslie, walk up this hill. Who cares? You're going to finish." 

That's when I started running again. I ran past a women who literally was passed out on the course and I thought, "That seems like a solid option right now." Sleeping instead of running with pile of bricks in my stomach. 

I ran through the Mile 25 marker and saw my crew again and just stopped. Told them I was going to die. They told me that was ok. Then told me to go finish. One woman next to them remarked how I wasn't even sweating! This is a clue that something is very wrong with you. 

I picked it up and just ran without thinking or even looking around. I just wanted to be done. 

All of the sudden around Columbus Circle the magical signs started showing up 1/2 mile to finish, 400 yards to finish, 200 yards and everything was splayed in blue and orange and people were all running to the finish and I thought to myself, "What if this is what going to heaven is going to be like?"

Kinda awesome with the motorcycle cops behind me. 

And it hit me: 

You don't get a say in how your final days are going end. 

My friend Amy didn't get to determine her end. Neither did our friend Jay Whitaker who died last weekend. This race brought me so close to understanding that it doesn't matter what those days look like.  I was so disappointed to not end the race in triumph and joy and with ease like I had planned and hoped for. How much is that like Amy and Jay? 

As I was rounding the turn, the Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was playing. Which has been my theme for this whole race. And it has never been more true. But I got just what I needed to finish. 

With Jesus we all get to finish. We all get the medal. But we don't get to say how it goes. 

That's the race. 

Of course, when I get to heaven, I hope I don't throw up endlessly once I cross the line in a fit of dehydration. 

This was after I threw up a few times. I felt a lot better. Then I felt a lot worse. Then better after I threw up some more. Awesome. Finisher. 4:17:18. 30 minutes after I wanted. 

I think I'll go for a run today

PowerBar Run from Ryan Lawrence on Vimeo.

"The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

I'll see the finish line in a few hours!

I'd Like to Be a Bird, But if Not-I'll Be a Runner-4 Days!

My friend Dusty sent this video to me as inspiration for the race.

And I loved it so much I had to share it on here. Just watch him climb those trees.
 And, I want a cabin in the woods like that.


He said "Just think of all those dreams lined up before a race..."



4 DAYS YA'LL!

Track Your Runner-5 Days!

The New York Road Runners have officially released the application in the iTunes and Google Play store that allows you to track runners on race day. So if you'd like to add this app to your phone, you can play along at home and watch my progress:

New York Road Runners Link

Also, here are directions if you want to watch the race live. It is going to be aired on ESPN2! Starting at 9:00am nationwide! WOOHOO!

New York Road Runners Tune In information

Also there will be a finish line camera on the New York Road Runners page that you can watch me try to finish the race. I am hoping to cross anywhere from 1:35pm to 2pm. So that is a good window of time to hang out in front of the computer if you are into that kind of thing. If you track me on the app-you will know FOR SURE when I should cross.

My bib number is 25206 and I am registered under my full name so that should make it easy to find.

(last year's commercial)

Support Your Marathoner-7 DAYS!

One week until race day! I've been reflecting on my last race and for sure, the hardest part of the Asheville City Marathon last month was the fact that there was no crowd support. No friends. Matt had to drag our kids out of bed at 6:30 in pajamas to get them down to the race. AND he had to bribe them with Bojangles (he wasn't sad about that).

Crowd support is HUGE to a runner. 

I've been running by myself for nearly 16 weeks now. On race day, I'm not interested in doing that any more. 

But it is a big deal to ask friends and family to take on the expense of going to NYC to cheer me on. Check out what ASICS is offering! 

It's called http://www.supportyourmarathoner.com/ 

You go to this website and you can enter my bib number. When I cross a line, it will automatically trigger a video or picture message from YOU while I'm on the course! Isn't that cool? 

Here is a video about it:

I don't know if any of you will do it, but it would be a HUGE surprise if anybody does!

Another cool detail of just how big and awesome this race is. They think of the coolest things that add value for runners!
My bib # is 25206 and I think that's all you need! www.supportyourmarathoner.com

Week 15! 8 days left!

Now THIS was a tough week.

I got in a car accident on Monday. 

I had a run scheduled every day. 

My kids have two teacher work days AND my husband is out of town all week. 

AND the marathon is so close and I really don't HAVE to run but I need to run to maintain my fitness and to not lose my mind. 

The taper has made me super twitchy. 

I've been trying to watch what I eat, drink and focus on every single little activity I do.

Which will make you pretty mental if you let it. 

And so I tried to rest while I wasn't doing all the stuff you can read above. It was challenging. NO DOUBT. 

But look! I ran. And I thought I wasn't running that much and then I turned around and somehow cranked out a 33 mile week. Somewhere around Thursday I was pretty cranky about running a lot of miles still. But I did it. Thanks NYRR training plan. 

Somehow this week I ran 6 more miles than last week and about hour more. This adds up. In a real way. 

I mean. This is a lot of time running. And this is just one week. Somehow I have made it through 15 weeks of this. I can't believe it. And now I am into the FINAL WEEK.

Which means I get to wear this shirt every day:

YAY! It's marathon week people! 

NYC Playlist-9 Days!

Some people have been asking, so here it is.

The playlist.

I have it on Spotify  so you can see it there and listen. For free. Here it is: SPOTIFY


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Have I mentioned my love for Spotify? I doubt that it will work for the marathon with 47,000 + spectators all trying to use their phones, so I am going to play it safe and have all these songs preloaded on my phone.

But WOW. Spotify. It's a game changer. Especially for Young Life leaders. $10 a month and you don't have to pay for music? That's just crazy.


Anyway, here is the playlist.

It's all jacked up in the formatting cause it's meant to go in a CD case.

I decided after listening to Spotify for the last two weeks to add about 40 songs to the playlist that all my donors gave me. The little changes will give me a boost and these songs are ALL fun and surprising to me even know. I have been changing playlists as I have gone along so I wouldn't be too bored with my music.

Also, I don't even know IF I will listen to much music during the race.
All of the blogs I have read suggest not running with music that much because the environment surrounding this marathon in particular is not one to insulate yourself from with your own music. But just let it go and enjoy the whole day.

I plan on doing a little of both. Enjoying the environment but when I need to refocus and get my pace back on track--plugging in and getting after it (perhaps when I'm feeling really tired).

We'll see!

Clear As a Bell-9 Days

It's been fun to run for a charity and to realize just how many people are running for charities. In fact, one of my Young Life girls from back in the day is running for a charity in the race and we will get to see each other in NY! She will be traveling all the way from California on behalf of her team. I can't wait to see her.

The charity aspect of the marathon helps make all the training and dedication worth it because you realize that you are running for something much bigger than yourself.

Before, I wanted to run for me. Because this was MY goal. MY thing. What I wanted to do.

Now? It's because it's something that God wants to use in my life to show me how he cares for ALL walks of life. This is something much bigger than myself.

I love this video because it gives the vision of a runner in NYC and having a heart for the city. Which I definitely do. As I have run, I have found the solitude and quiet that I have needed on a daily basis. I sure could use the time having my "quiet time" being in the Bible but I am sure of this--I have never prayed more or been in deeper conversation with God about life and those I love than I have in the past four months. This time has been so rich for me. I have surely grown because He has run every single mile with me. Or I should say, I have run every mile with Him.


Craig Mayes NYC Marathon for the NYC Rescue Mission from Kensington on Vimeo.

Five Boroughs-Isn't Enough

Asics | 5 Borroughs from Real Productions on Vimeo.
Five boroughs isn't enough! I'm so excited!
Today is our travel day and we made it to New Jersey! Onward to New York tomorrow for the expo! YAY!

Can Almost Taste It-10 Days

10 Days. 10 DAYS. 
That's a week and a half. 

I was running yesterday and I remembered how intimidated I was by all of the days of running I had ahead of me when I started. 
And here I am. 
A week and a half away from the race. And the training is completed. I am simply running every day just to keep my body loose. And to look forward to the race and the finish line. It made me think of this verse.

"I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize"… Philippians 3:13

In my life with Christ, I have not achieved anything worth noting. I have to press forward, forgetting the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

 In my life with running, all I have done is trained. Which is an accomplishment however-IT IS NOT THE RACE ITSELF. Just the preparations. 
It's almost enough to make you exhausted. Is it all for nothing? NO WAY. The race is the best part! With God and in reality. It's the easy part. There is refreshment, people cheering you on, music, adrenaline. It's also when all the training gets puts to the test. And you have to further than you ever have before. You have to go the distance. 

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

And everyone wants to cross the finish line. 
Even those who haven't put in the training. Or been prepared for the race. 
We have to work up to the idea that we CAN do this. 
Check out this video:

ING NYC Marathon Week from Infinite Media on Vimeo.

If you can get the idea that YOU CAN get to the finish line, then you will want to start the race. 
It's an idea that builds. ING knows that. New York Road Runners knows that. Jesus knows that. 

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Find Your Strong-11 Days!

I love this video for showing how amazing Central Park is.
The connection between Central Park and Asheville isn't as much as stretch as it might seem.

The same landscape architect for Central Park, Frank Law Olmsted-designed the grounds for our famous Biltmore Estate which happens to be one of my favorite places to run AND is home to my favorite race in Asheville, the Biltmore 15k. And the Asheville Marathon (which also takes place on the Biltmore Estate) recently announced that Inheritance of Hope is going to be their charity partner in race in mid-March. *Cue the spring marathon plans*


Find Your Strong Project - Central Park from Saucony on Vimeo.

"If you are from out of town, I encourage you to run through Central Park."

This is the biggest lesson I've learned this year. There is no better way to see a city than with your running shoes on. I can't wait to run through Central Park on November 3rd!

Can I Get a Medic Over Here?-12 Days

Lord willing I won't need to see any medical staff on race day.

But it is a HUGE detail of running a race this big. Especially in light of the Boston bombing tragedy-it really brings to the surface how crucial the medical staff is during a race day.

I love the images in this video. It shows the humanity of running the race and how special the medical staff are who take care of us on race day. 12 days!


New York City Marathon from topher@tophercox.com on Vimeo.

Day After

Here it is. The Day after. And this is how I was moving through the airport. No doubt. Struggle bus.

The City Where Every Day is a Race-14 days!

Why run NYC?

Because it was the first. The best. The biggest. And well...if you are a runner-you have to run NYC.

Alec Baldwin tells you why its amazing.


NYC Marathon Alec Baldwin from Marc Beroza on Vimeo.

2 weeks from tomorrow I will be hitting the starting line!

The Fans-15 Days!

I am definitely looking forward to having the multitudes of crowd support to get me through this race.
As I've been reflecting on the race, I was getting a little bummed about there being nearly 2 million spectators and knowing a handful of people throughout the race.

It is going to be so awesome to have this face to cheer me on:

And of course these faces:

and THESE faces:

And this year because my brother Drew lives in New Jersey, he'll be there too! 

But in the face of 2 million people, it is tough to think that I'm even going to SEE them! 

Then I heard from the charity that there are volunteers from Inheritance of Hope that are all along the race course that will be looking for my charity shirt and cheering for me! How cool is that? Another incredible benefit of running a race with charity. It's running on a TEAM of people that are pulling for you! 

Like a cloud of witnesses. 

Hebrews 12:1

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (ME) endured the cross."

BUH-BAM. 

Get ready people. The crowds are the cloud of witnesses. Look at it that way and you will never been the same. 

It is such a picture of Heaven. I can not wait. For the race and for Heaven. 

Let's run this race. 

2011 ING NYC MARATHON - THE FANS from rook productions media on Vimeo.

Also, I will have the signs to look forward to. Just laugh.

Timing-16 Days!

Becoming a more serious runner means that you become seriously more intense about data. You want to know exactly what your times are, what they mean, how you can do better.

What this means in a big race like the NYC Marathon is that there are 48,000 runners who ALL want that data. And maybe their families want that info too.

So as you can imagine, the logistics of timing a race like this is INSANE. Check out how it gets done and done accurately.

17 Days-How Did My Heart Get a Knife?

Just 17 days until the marathon which means just 15 days until we LEAVE for the marathon! It's getting so close!

I am doing my daily recovery runs and stretching. Trying to eat right. Because I have all of THIS to look forward to.




Please don't let my heart stab my lungs.
Please don't let me poop my pants. Or pants my poop.
Please don't let Rob Thomas get stuck inside my head.

I'm gonna do it. Gimme that space blanket!

18 Days!

It's official! I got my bib number, corral information and start time today. The best news I found out is that I get to run on the top level of the bridge leaving Staten Island. This is crucial because nervous runners will stop and pee while on the bridge and it hits the runners below (this may be runner rumor but I didn't want to find out) and it is way more picturesque to be on the top level! YAY! It is starting to get crazy around here.

AND I am only ~$75 away from raising $6000 for Inheritance of Hope!

This whole process has been crazy wonderful from start to finish and I really hope I get to do it again. It is thrilling and I find myself overwhelmed with thankfulness from top to bottom. Everyday that I go run, I can't believe that I am able to do it.

It sounds weird, but I haven't missed a single workout on my plan so far and I have no idea how that has happened except by grace. I didn't even do that in college when I was playing soccer! Every day that I knock off another workout, I literally stand amazed that I just completed what was asked of me.

There is a great article in Christianity Today about the rise of charity runners and the author said, "The running path became a kind of church for me. Part small group, part quiet time, part worship, part memory verse practice time (I wore out the verse "I can do all things for Christ who strengthens me"). I wasn't just developing my muscles. I was growing spiritually."

I can easily say the same for me.
I have been so encouraged. Deepened. Thoroughly challenged to become a different person through this process.

I've also noticed that because I'm so tired, I'm actually emotionally available to people where before I might have been more defensive or on the move.
I have time. I'm able to listen and not talk. I cry really easily.

I am already dreading this being over. I am sure I will have post-race depression. Sure of it.
18 Days!