The Phone Call That Changed My Life - Why I Tri

I was driving home from work when my phone rang. It was my Tio Andy. As I answered, I expected the normal phone call, but that's not exactly what I got. We started off normal, but then I began to tell him about one of my crazy friends who was doing a triathlon. He paused for a moment and then asked, "Why don't you do one?" I immediately answered, "Tio Andy, I know you believe in me and all, but I can't do a triathlon...I'm not that good!" Well needless to say, my Tio Andy believed in me and I told my Tio Andy that ONE day I would do one for him.

Well, not too long after, a very sad day struck. My Tio Andy had passed away. I promised him I'd do a triathlon and well, I made sure I did that for him. I actually ended up doing my first triathlon on his birthday, which was May 5th. Ever since then...I have been hooked. 

I started to "TRI" because someone believed in me and now I want to pass that on to you. So often we limit ourselves because we decide in your heads we can't do it. Well I am here to tell you that you can! I believe in you! I know you can do whatever you set your mind to! 

I started off just doing triathlons to finish, but right now, I am competing. I am competing against the girl I was yesterday. I am competing against those in my age group. I am competing and I can't believe it! Lol! My goal this year is to finish top 3 in my age group and I am giving it all I can to do just that. 

I hope my story can inspire you all. I have not always been fit and I have never been the best athlete, but I have always worked hard. Come race day, I want to show you all that hard work can beat talent. Hard work can get you more places than you can ever imagine. 

Below is a picture of a determined woman. A woman who knows that she CAN do ALL things through CHRIST. A woman who finds strength in God. Below is a picture of a woman who does not GIVE UP. Below is a picture of a woman who was created to ENCOURAGE and INSPIRE other men and women. 

You don't have to be the perfect athlete to be a triathlete. You don't have to be perfect to do anything you set your mind to. All you have to do is give it your all and God will do the rest. 

2015 Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam Half Marathon - 2:08:45

"I Think I Can, I Think I Can!"

In the 8th grade, one of my teachers told my parents that I reminded him of the Little Engine that Could. I had made the team to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and as we were climbing to the peak on the last day my group fell behind. The tour guide told us that we would have to go back to the cabin. My heart dropped, I knew I could make it to the top. One of the other tour guides came up to my friend Saleem and I and told us that he knew we could make it to the top and that he would take us. He saw the, I think I can, I think I can, mentality in us. I made it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro that day. But that was only the beginning of my Little Engine that Could, story. 

In 2010, I was introduced to running. Actually, my running friends called my running, The Rochelle Shuffle. Sometimes my run was slower than a walk, but I made sure I never stopped. I would shuffle along until I finished the amount of miles I had committed to. I shuffled my way through my first half marathon in October 2010. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done! There were times when I wanted to stop, but that little voice in my head, I think I can, I think I can kept going. 

I would love to tell you that as you get faster that the I think I can voice goes away, but it doesn't. As you get stronger, your goals get more and more challenging. I showed up to the Buffalo Stampede Half Marathon race with one thing on my mind, 'getting under 2 hours.' There were so many times when I told myself that I would be happy with just a PR during that race, but I knew that I needed more than a PR, I needed to see a 1 as the first number in my finishing time. 

As I chant I think I can, I think I can in my head during a race, God chants to me, I know you can, I know you can. With hard work, consistency, and faith, my shuffle slowly started to become a run. As I look at my running pics from 2014, I still freak out! I did it, I am REALLY  running! Lol! 

The reason why I get so excited about all this is because I didn't always think any of this was possible. I filled myself with excuses that only thin girls could be runners. I told myself that 10 minute miles were the limit for girls like me. God showed me other wise. He showed me that I could be a runner if I wanted to be. He also showed me that girls like me, can run half marathons under a 9 minute mile pace too. He showed me that ALL things are POSSIBLE through Him. 

I am sharing my story with you today because if you're a runner, I know you have the I think I can mentality. I also know that if you are someone who dreams to run under a 2 hour half marathon that it's possible. My story is proof that a 2:31:14 is only  the beginning, not the end. All it takes is faith, patience, consistency, and hard work!

How's Your Prayer Life?

Have you ever been stumped with prayer? Have you ever wondered if prayer really works? Have you ever felt like you don't know how to pray? Well, if you have, you aren't the only one. Yep, that's right, I have questioned prayer in my life too. Questioning prayer doesn't make you a bad Christian, it just means that you don't know all the answers.

Over the past couple months God has been working on me in the area of prayer. Believe me, it was an area that needed to be worked on. Although I've always been a firm believer in prayer, I have been somewhat of a lazy prayer. I have had seasons of GREAT prayer and also seasons of not-so-good prayer. But it's been in those GREAT prayer seasons, I've learned how important prayer is.

Today as I was reading Lysa TerKeurst blog, I was enlightened by this quote:

"Thinking about, talking about and worrying about something is not the same as praying about it."

What a beautiful truth this is. After reading her blog, I began to reflect on my own life. So often, I have questioned prayer because I did a lot more thinking, talking, and worrying about things, instead of actually praying. 

When I do pray (like pray pray), it's amazing how God takes all anxiety out of me. All of a sudden, there is a sense of peace in the middle of the storm. God also speaks to me in prayer. And no, I don't mean in an audible voice, but He speaks to my heart. All of a sudden, His Wisdom falls upon me and I can just feel His presence. It's in these prayers,I learn God's plan and not my own. 

So what is the right way to pray you may ask? Well, honestly, through my Christian walk, God has taught me that there isn't just one way to pray. We often times forget that prayer is just conversation with God. You can send up quick five second prayers as well as ten minute private prayers. God hears all of our prayers. Sometimes when you're on the go you don't have time to go into a private place and pray for 10 minutes, but you do have time to say, "Lord, I need you in this situation." Just know that God doesn't only hear long prayers, He hears the short ones too. It's all about where your heart is during those prayers.

I encourage you to reflect on your prayer life. If it's not up to par, today is the day you can get it there. While you're driving, talk to God, or at night instead of watching TV take time to pray for awhile as well. Pray before a meal, pray during your workout session. Challenge yourself until it becomes a habit. 

In the comments section I would love to hear how prayer has impacted your life. It's a beautiful thing and there's nothing like sharing the power of prayer. God bless you all! 

The Fear of the Long Run

I fear long runs. Every time I hear the words, "long run," I cringe. I just know in my heart that my long run is going to be a very LONG RUN. I dread them, but I want to love them. When my training plan says 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and even 8 miles, I am perfectly fine, but when I see those double digits my body immediately wants to sleep in and skip the run. 

Okay, okay, I will admit, I don't mind running half marathons, but only if they are races. Heck, I was even cool with running a 20k (15.5miles) during a race. My problem is the long distance training runs. The runs where my pace is much slower than race day and I have no one around me to keep me motivated. I don't have a crowd or fellow runners pushing me to keep going. 

I have let the long run beat me all year. It beat me down during my triathlon training and it's beating me down now. Honestly, I think the reason why it's beating me down is because until today I haven't faced my struggle. I haven't admitted to myself that I fear it. Instead of admitting the fear, I sleep in or do a shorter run, and then make a valid excuse on why it didn't get done.

When you don't admit or face a struggle in your life, it's very difficult to overcome. The struggle just lingers until it's faced. You can try to hide the struggle and you can deny it all you want, but it doesn't go away. 

Today I am facing my struggle. I am no longer going to be defeated by the long run. Yes, I may cringe a few times when I hear a double digit number followed by the word "long run," but I will overcome it. 

They only way I know how to face struggle is through prayer. Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:7 to "Give all your worries and cares to God because He cares for you." In Philippians 4:6 the Word tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,  present your requests to God." Below is the prayer I will be praying about my struggle. Go ahead and put any of your struggles in the blank and pray this prayer with me. Together we can be overcomers! 

Dear God,

You are awesome! Thank You for Your goodness and mercy. 

In Your word You have told us to cast our worries upon You. 

I struggle with ________. I know I can overcome this with You. 

You are my strength. I seek Your help, strength, and guidance.

Thank You, Lord! I know I am victorious in all things through You.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen! 

"Dang! I'm Almost 30!" - Birthday Post

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M 26!! The reason why I say this is because I have had so much fun making fun of my older cousins when they turned 26. As soon as my cousins turned 26 I told them, "Dang! You're almost 30!" I'm so glad my younger cousins don't tell me that! LOL!

God told me that 25 was going to be a year of growth. He had been preparing me for year 25 and now it was time to walk on faith. Up until 25, my faith hadn't really been tested. I must admit, I failed in so many ways this year. I thought I trusted God with all my heart, but I quickly learned that when I faced difficulty, I turned to myself first and when I fell I turned to God. I am so thankful for those failures because if it wasn't for those failures I would have never grown. Through each of my failures I never stopped believing and I was forever grateful that my Lord and Savior never stopped believing in me as well!

I love the scripture in Deuteronomy 31:6 where God tells us, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

These words are so powerful to me! I love looking at synonyms to key words in scripture. It opens up the verse for me. Below are a few words with their synonyms.

STRONG: active, big, enduring, energetic, firm, fixed, durable
COURAGEOUS: adventurous, daring, fearless, gutsy, heroic, high-spirited
FORSAKE: desert, disown, give up, leave

As I look at these words, I get excited! God is telling us to trust Him, to be energetic and fearless about it and know that He has our back, He will not leave us, He will not give up on us. Remember His promises. Stand firm on His promises.

God continues to speak this verse in my life. I am slowly getting the hint He wants me to 'sole'ly trust Him. He wants me to be strong and courageous with the things He tells me to do. He wants YOU to be strong and courageous as well.

The opposite of strong is weak and the opposite of courageous is fearful and timid. God has a purpose for each and every one of us and it's up to us to be strong and courageous with that purpose. In the bible, God wanted them to be strong and courageous so they could get to the land He had promised them. Why is God asking you to be strong and courageous?

God is telling me to be strong and courageous in my "almost 30 years," well actually for the rest of my life. He just revealed to me that this is something I need to work on. It is part of building a solid foundation. I know I said that 25 was a year of growth, but I know that once I grow in one area, God will continue to grow in me in other areas as well.

Keep me in your prayers! I pray Ephesians 6:19 into every readers life, that you will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel!





I AM A RUNNER AND I LOVE JESUS

I am a runner and I love Jesus.

A few months ago God told me to begin a blog, I ignored Him. I didn't know what to say and I didn't know if anyone would take the time to read my blog. I told myself that it was probably a misunderstanding. Needless to say, it wasn't a misunderstanding, here I am, writing my first blog post. Thank you in advance for stopping by!

So here it goes, I am a runner and I love Jesus. I wasn't always a runner and I haven't always loved Jesus (the way I do now). The  thought of running one mile scared me and the thought of reading one chapter in the bible bored me. BUT God!

One day in September 2009, after going to church off and on, the power of God touched me in a way it never had before and on that day I was saved. I was 20 years old. God saved me spiritually and physically.

I want to start off my blog by letting you all know, I did not grow up being a born-again Christian. I also did not come out of my mothers womb running. I made a choice to be a Christian, which changed my life drastically and because of that choice, God gave me the gift of running. My Christian walk is not perfect and neither is my running life. But through my ups and downs in my mini life (I call it mini because I know to some people 26 is the age of a child...lol) I hope to encourage you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. (1 Tim 6:12)

God told me that the goal of this blog is not to reach billions of people. He told me that if just one person is impacted, this blog will have been a success. I pray that you will be encouraged and motivated and feel a little closer to Jesus as you read my blog posts. I will be updating a least once a week!

"Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." - 1 Tim 6:12