a letter from Jen…
Dear Friends & Family:
I hope this letter finds you well. As you are hopefully aware, my family and I recently moved back to Mesa, AZ from Seattle. While we enjoyed a break from the heat while in the Northwest as well as the contrast in culture while living in a very cool city, we realized that Mesa is ‘home.’ Our close friendships are here along with the great connections we have at Central Christian Church of the East Valley. Only two days after returning to Mesa, one of those friends challenged me to stretch my faith by participating in a Global Connection Trip with CCCEV. While I was a bit unsure of the timing of the trip since we are still settling in after moving, I quickly became excited about the opportunity. I certainly experienced a different way of life while in Seattle, but I am looking forward to expanding my worldview beyond the borders of our American culture.
I will be traveling in a group of six women to Egypt October 6-18th. We will be partnering with Life in Abundance International. The mission of LIA is to empower local churches to serve the poor using a holistic approach to transform the community by meeting their practical needs. During our stay we will assist LIA as they put on a women’s conference for Sudanese refugees in Cairo. The purpose of the conference is to lead and encourage the women in their walk with Jesus; to give them an opportunity to forgive, reconcile and unite as one family; and to experience God’s hand of healing.
I am writing with the hope that you will prayerfully consider joining in the partnership of this trip. There are two ways for you to do so. First of all, would you please be praying for this trip? The trip’s success depends upon the prayers of our partners. Second, to participate in this trip I must raise $2500 by October 3rd. Would you consider a financial gift to help me reach that goal? All gifts are tax deductible, online contributions may be made here. Please be sure to make note of my name and trip #276 in the appropriate fields.
Again, I ask that you please keep me and my team: Jackie, Leslie, Marcia, Amy and Denyse in your prayers as we prepare for this trip as well as during the trip in October. Please do not hesitate to comment or message me with any questions you may have.
Thanks,
Jen
Here are my starting point suggestions for running, making the assumptions that you are just starting out. (Most all of this is stolen & revamped from various people & places). Bottom line = If you want to run/fast walk 13 miles by Dec. 5, 2010, you can absolutely do it if you will commit to 2-3 short workouts + 1 long work out each week.
Basic Pointers
- Start slow – Don’t get discouraged with your first few weeks… they are hard for everyone when they begin.
- Set reasonable goal - If this is your 1st attempt at 13 miles, aim for 10-12 minutes for each mile.
- Start with 30 min. of fast paced walking 3-4 days each week for 2 weeks. Initially it is ALL about getting out there
- Drink lots of water – Every day, especially the night before your workout, sip it gradually during your workout to avoid a bloated feeling.
- Then move to doing 30 min. alternating 5 min easy jog then 5 min. fast walk – 3-4 days each week for 2-3 weeks
- Progress to 30 min of easy jog for 30 min – 3-4 days per week.
- Somewhere between weeks 6-8 add in 1 longer day of walking/jogging. You want to increase this each week so that you can do 90-120 continuous minutes 2 weeks before your race date.
- Use a running plan calculator if you would like to get a more detailed running plans. Here are two GREAT websites and running plans. Definitely worth the reading time:
- Runners World / Running plan tool - check it out as it is easy to use and easy to follow.
- Hal Higdon’s Marathon Training Plan
By the end of the 6-9 week period you will be able to do a 5k in 30ish min. Here is a link that has a similar plan
This is a solid article has some basic & useful tips for getting started on running.
General Pointers
- Visit a running specific store and spend about $100 on a professional fitted pair of shoes. This makes a huge difference on how your knees, hips, back feel. For FREE they will analyze what type of shoe will work best for you. I highly recommend www.ROADRUNNERSPORTS.com for their VIP club which allows you to take back shoes within the first 6 weeks if they don’t feel great and get a full refund towards a different pair. Plus they have great analysis, selection and prices.
- Find an eating plan to go with the exercise if weight loss is a goal. — too many people think that lbs. will come of quick just by running or biking (I was one of those). Even basic modifications with diet can really make a difference when you add in 3-5x each week of exercise.
- I have always found having a training partner is a very motivational tool. Recruit someone who will do your target race with you and work out with them 1x each week for accountability, motivation and inspiration.
Are you ready to get in shape, drop 10-20lbs and run your first HALF Marathon (13 miles) before this Christmas?
I am offering FREE training for anyone in the Mesa/Gilbert (AZ) area who wants to learn how to run, start eating better and support a great cause. It doesn’t matter that you haven’t run more than a mile in years. I can get you to these goals PLUS there is no easier way than to start training with a group of positive and supportive people reaching for the same goals.
My motivation is simple. I help lead a team that is running the in the Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Dec. 5. and I want you to join. The team is called TeamXXXchurch. We exist to raise awareness about the true addictive and destructive nature of pornography and as we run we raise support to further the ministries of XXXchurch.com
Want more details? click here.
We’ve been lazy on here… we admit it. The sun has FINALLY been peeking through the constant dripping layers of gray so we’ve been doing our best to capture those moments. Although there weren’t many/any of those orange moments for the 4th of July. In fact, Seattlites are so pessimistic about the weather that everyone of them were predicting a wet day… and they got what they asked for. But in keeping with the spirit of this damp, cold place we didn’t let the drizzle inhibit us from lighting off bottle rockets, missiles, black-cats, sparklers and other minor-explosives with our cousins. My favorite long sleeve shirt even came up with a burn hole but we were so busy having fun I couldn’t even stop to mourn.
This week marks less than 4 weeks until we are back in Mesa. We are off to Whistler, B.C (also known as the best place in Canada) for what has now become the annual birthday mountain bike mecca extravaganza. Don’t expect any updates until the fun has completely settled. Rich & Julie Nichol and Jason & Elizabeth Shafer are running from their locations in hell to experience heaven with us. Of course, pics on these things to follow soon.