It has been a long time since I've posted to my blog. Weight loss and maintaining can be a struggle for me. I have to refocus on my goals after the beginning of each year. This year however, after running the Dallas White Rock full marathon, my eating habits went out the door. It took all I had to finished the full marathon. Dieting to loose weight was not the focus. Dieting to sustain myself for 26.2 miles was the focus! Then after running the race it was very hard to turn myself back around and remember how I started the journey! I was able to regain my dieting strength by getting back in alignment with my walk with God. Dedicating my focus back to Him and doing my New Year fasting with no sugar, and calorie counting again. The Dallas marathon was a brutal 45 degrees and it poured down rain during the entire 26.2 miles. Sometimes a sprinkle...but really hard cold rain for 26.2 miles. I had several hours to talk with God and to realize just what my journey had been, and why I was running. I had to believe that God's calling to the cross was much more of a struggle than my desire to complete 26.2 miles even in the rain. How could I even compare the two? I can't. What I could do was use His love for me to complete the journey and know He died loving me in my sinful self. His love became my every step...it pushed me forward to something bigger than what I could accomplish on my own. Oh how I NEEDED HIM that day and everyday! The post race blues that everyone seems to get after a full marathon, I tried to dissolve by running more races. I added the Austin 3M Half Marathon, I ran it for a recovery run in January of 2012. Then I added the Capitol 10K, my favorite race to run each year...then another half marathon Zooma...then Austin 10/20. By the end of April I was spent..my body had rebuked me and said, "You will stop!" I had finally hit a wall and couldn't continue on successfully. I took the month of May off to rest and set new goals for myself. I gained 10 pounds in May! So much for focus! By June I took off running again! This time I changed the hour of the day that I was going to run. No more running when I got home from work in the 100plus temperatures! I got up each morning and ran before the sun ever came up! I did this right through the hottest part of the summer. It built a new determination in me and helped me to loose the 10 pounds I had gained. It helped me to regain my love for running. It gave me quite time with God and I could focus on the day before me. I decided I wanted to run another full marathon and the local Austin marathon was my choice. I have volunteered twice to serve the running community and given back working as a volunteer for the Austin race. Last year I gave out medals for the full marathon. I cried with the participants that set personal goals, I witnessed families running together for the first time, I hugged a beautiful woman who qualified for her first Boston marathon, after 21 attempts! It was the most rewarding day and THIS is what reminded me why I love to run. Knowing with God I can do anything because He is my strength! Austin marathon is one of the toughest hill courses in the country for a marathon. Dallas White Rock was flat...that is why I chose it for my first! How can I handle 26.2 miles running through the hills of Austin. NO THEY AREN'T MOUNTAINS! But they might as well be for a runner like myself. This is my new challenge, pacing myself to get through to the finish of the Austin marathon. I ran the Chosen half marathon this weekend in New Braunfels. It is one of the toughest half marathon courses in hills in comparison to the Austin course. This was my 3rd year to run the Chosen course...and the first time to run my 3/1 intervals with total success. I got a PR for myself running this course with intervals...I was able to run with 3 stronger women. Each of us consistently ran the Chosen half together. Our focus was the finish line knowing a sweet little boy was waiting for us. After 3 years of an adoption process Erika Sears was finally crossing the finish line with son Joseph in her arms...and with her husband Kyle! Their adoption journey was complete! The ministry of the Chosen races had helped finance their efforts and the efforts of so many other families trying to adopt. Another race that has grounded efforts to support children who need loving homes through adoption. If you need a reason to run...this race would be it! Talk about crying at the end....Seeing God's love in the Sears family was the greatest blessing for me! Now in the weeks ahead of me, I continue on training for the Austin full marathon. I have a week of recovery this week...then the big miles start coming, 15, a week off, 17, another week off, 19...and so on. Race day is February 17, 2013. I will have to find balance or I'll never make it to the finish line. My spiritual self, life, food, running and play all will have to be in balance to get there. Keeping my eyes on God has always worked for me. I know I can't do it on my own nor do I want to! Here's to the days ahead of me...I dedicate them to the Lord who is my strength! Keep moving forward! KMF! Mama Barb