not of the world

in the world not of the world

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Watch this clip of Ryan Hall. It is great!

I am now in week 2/12 of my training for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I am running 160 km/wk and handling my two workouts (track repeats and treadmill tempos), long runs, cross training (swim, bike) and stretching/core/trigger point therapy routine quite well, and enjoying it! I've been starting most of my runs by 6:00 a.m., which has been great considering the heat these days! I'm enjoying the kids at home for the summer (our 2nd starts school in Sept!). We especially have fun at the cabin and African Lion Safari. 

Many people have told me that they've shed a tear or thought of me during the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games (thanks, guys!). It's been exciting to watch the various events and cheer Canada on from home. I can't help but think, though, how glad I am for my faith. Seeing athletes' dreams shattered or fulfilled is really something but at the end of the day, or at the end of our life, only one thing matters. Here is the start list for Athletics. Of course I scrolled down to see where Lanni and I would be, based on our 2:31 and 2:32 times from Rotterdam. Likely would have been mid-pack. Regardless, God has a plan for my life and like Ryan Hall said, He is the ultimate prize!

Can't wait to watch the women's and men's marathons, Aug 5 and 12 at 6:00 a.m. respectively. Will be cheering on Eric, Reid and Dylan...and of course, Ryan!

Here We Go!

Photos taken by Brantford Road Rebels.

I enjoyed my two down weeks, which included 140 km and 120 km of running (and swimming and biking) and ... lots of ice cream. Yep, that's right. I splurged. I ate anything I wanted. The funny thing is that there are many things I could have eaten but had absolutely no desire to touch. I think that when you are in the habit of eating well, you always want to, and continue to eat well. And that is a good thing. So, the extent of my 2 weeks of eating anything I wanted included: toast with tonnes of honey and ice cream (1 sundae, 1 frosty, 2 drumsticks, and a few cones!!). I tell you, by the time the two weeks was up, I knew I had more than enough. So, from now until Oct 14, I will not have one bite of any sort of treat. I went two months before Rotterdam so know that 3 months is totally possible. I love being driven by goals!
So, I was able to run a shorter race to get a good start to the season. Coach and I had planned the 4 miler in Buffalo but because I was on my own with the kids and the drive to and from was long enough (not to mention the possible wait at the border), we decided to do the Burlington Downtown Dash 5km.  Despite the extra ice cream I was carrying (!!!), I was able to run a fairly speedy 16:32 (new personal best!). I felt great; controlled, strong and steady. Avery came with me to help w/ the kids and we had a great time. I took Friday off (first day off in 5 1/2 weeks) and enjoyed the day at the cabin with the kids.  Coach and I met this week to discuss our 12 week plan. I'll run 160 km/wk (and swim and bike) and likely race 3 times (one half, and two 10 km's) before STWM.
It's going to be good, real good!
Focused. Fit. Fast.
Here's a picture of my brother in law's turtle squares from his food blog, The Black Peppercorn. They'll taste so good...in October!!

Plan B

Plan B.
Let me take you back two months. Shortly after returning from Rotterdam where I ran a PR and breakthrough of 2:32:06, I started to re-think my next plan. Coach Rick was recovering from surgery so I wanted to give him some time. Meanwhile I asked a few people for their thoughts about the best route for my running career. Nicole Stevenson gave me some great advice as did Alan Brookes.
You see, Jonathan and I were actually thinking about baby #4 (!!!?) but since Lanni and I agreed to start the process to apply as Rising Stars for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (Plan A), the baby idea was put on hold. Should we have been named to the team, it wouldn't look so good if I was pregnant!
So, Plan B was developed - run the Ottawa 10 km in May, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon in June, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) in October, and the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. Obviously the 2012 Olympics would have been a huge thrill but realistically an early bonus in terms of my long term plan; a few years ago I set the 2016 Olympics as my ultimate goal so I'm back on track with that. I'll be honest, when our appeal was denied the few days after were a bit difficult. With another personal best this season (Vancouver Half in 1:14:02, one minute and forty seconds faster) and a hearing w/ the SDRCC that went really well, my hopes were higher than ever. Now, I still knew it was unlikely that we'd go to London but my training was also perfectly in line for an August 5th marathon. I was successfully handling 160 km weeks AND intense workouts. Even my RHR was at an ultimate low of 29!! But, as I already wrote (and pardon the pun), it was "Not this time". God is good, all the time.
So, this week coach Rick and I met to finalize Plan B. We decided a two week semi-break (decrease the mileage and intensity) would be a good idea, mentally and physically, before starting my build to run a super fast and strong STWM, October 14!!!! I did not want to try to maintain the current training for fear of being flat in October. I had to put London behind and Toronto ahead. We are away for a week of family vacation so the timing couldn't be better to switch things up a bit. During this time I will also enjoy a few sweets and treats. Back when I was training for Rotterdam, I did not have one bite of any sweet or treat for 3 months so I know I will do it again, starting July 22nd, the first day of STWM training.
I'm thrilled.
I'm excited.
It's going to be good.

Here is the STWM story!
 “My running is a gift from God,” she declares. “God has a plan for me so I am not disappointed [to miss London 2012]. I am still looking forward to 2016 and hopefully His plan is for me to make the Olympic team then.”

A little fun

Canadian Running Magazine is publishing  an article on me that will be in the Sept/Oct issue, which hits newsstands the last week of August. They needed some pictures so we did a little photo shoot at the North Park Highschool track (where Kevin Sullivan attended) next to the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre where I train (and the kids are cared for by two amazing ladies). The location of the gym (which also has a pool and 200 m indoor track) and track is very convenient as it's 1 km from home and next to the kids' school and my massage therapy clinic. Rick's niece, Sue did a great job as photographer. Thanks, Sue and Rick!

I must say that since our appeal was denied (story from Brantford Expositor and Brant News), I've received a lot of heart-felt messages. Thank you, everyone. Of note, was one from my cousin.

"Hey Krista! Thought I'd share a song that I find incredibly inspirational and love to listen to when I'm exercising! Reminds me of you too and the great example you have been of giving your dreams to God and letting Him guide you! Can't wait to see what's next for you! xoxo :) Click here."

I've made my decision about my next race and will write about it soon. I'm quite excited!

 

 

 

Not this time ...

As much as I would have been thrilled to have my name on this list with the other athletes representing Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games, it's going to have to wait until 2016.
Lanni and I had our appeal denied by the SDRCC arbitrator this morning.
Am I disappointed, yes. Am I devastated, definitely not.
You just don't know what twists and turns will happen, especially in sports. Read here about yesterday's women's 100 m hurdles at the Track & Field Championships.
God is good, all the time. And I'm quite excited to see what He has planned. But before I write about my future plans, I'm going to chat with Coach Rick and Lanni first. But stay tuned. Like Alan Brookes recently wrote after interviewing me after my Vancouver win, "The performance was a major PB by more than a minute and a half. I’d really like to go to Moscow and run for Canada in the World Championships Marathon next summer. I feel like I’m at a new level now – I just did my first-ever 100 mile week in training — with a lot more to go. You haven’t seen the best of me yet. I’m looking for 5 good years…"
Thanks for your tremendous love and support. 
Loving this life God's given me.Check out this video from last weekend.