A small army

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I blogged, but don't think it's not because I'm not still running. I've been training for a 10k with my friend Sarah and we only have a few weeks left until the race. Our running group is called 'Feet of Thunder'--kind of poking fun of a friend's bike group called 'Skeletal Lightning'. Anyway, Sarah and I have been running together for quite a while now, but just recently we've had a few people join our group. On Thursday we had 4 girls running through the park and it was great! It looks like we are starting a small army.

I love running with other women. Not only is it encouraging, but it also pushes me to run faster and harder. I think we ran 4 miles that day and my lungs weren't even tired. I can feel myself getting stronger and I'm really starting to have some sweet time with the Lord as I run as well. I hope you all are being encouraged as you work out...maybe some of you even have work-out buddies, which is great.

God is so good--even when my calves hurt this bad!

Blessings!

lovely shoe

I have been having some trouble with my foot and I went to the bone doctor and am now wearing a lovely shoe to heal my stress fracture.  I can swim and bike though so that is a blessing.  I will have to stay away from running for 6-8 weeks.  I will get a complete bone scan on Tues and he will tell me exactly when I can start running again.  This will be difficult for me.  I love to run, it is a treasured time for me.  The Lord is teaching me every day what it means to treasure Him above all else.   I know you all wish you could wear this awesome shoe!!!

Running: My New Love

SHOCKING I know.. my title has love and running in the same sentence. So I have been into my 1/2 Marathon training for three weeks now and I AM LOVING IT! Last week I ended up having to sit three days out from my workouts because I was sick and never would i have thought in my entire life that I would miss running! lol. It's amazing how God can take something you have dreaded your entire life and turn it into something you love. I find that I do my BEST thinking when I am running, so good in fact that I wish I could somehow bring a pad a pen and write down all my good ideas that I think of. I sometimes feel like I'm on the verge of being a genius with all the great ideas that I come up with, only then I realize that maybe I'm more so dreaming then just thinking because I think more about it later and I'm like, 'what was I thinking?'.. It must be a part of the runners high or something. I don't know. I was telling Jen in a response to her comment, that I'm beginning to love running so much that I'm almost sad when the time is up, but then I realize how out of breath I am and I find myself embracing my front door with open arms! :)

Anyways so Liz you were asking about the training program so... I am doing a 12 week training program, where I run my long distance on Saturday, where I add a mile each week, and then I run my shorter distances anywhere from 2-4 miles during the week and work on bettering my time. But I leave Friday and Sunday for my rest days!
And its actually going really well! It's been nice to be able to set a plan and to have a goal for each week to reach. With all the years of sports that I have put my body through, I feel like my body is learning a whole new type of discipline! Its awesome!

I hope that everyone's workouts are going great! And one thing that I have learned in this process is that learning to love training and running and pushing myself has helped more than anything!! I hope you all are having as good of an experience as I am!!

EL

"Train, don't strain!"

Every runner should train with the awareness that the human body can be pushed too far.  The marvelous machine at our command is adaptable__within limits.  There's real merit in the phrase "Train, don't strain!"

We are down to four months to train for the triathlon.  I know it is hard for all of us to find the time and the ambition to work out at times.  I just want to encourage you all to put your tank top on and go for it even when every part of your body is saying I don't want to do it.  You have to find motivation.  Some of things I like to do to get motivated to sweat it is, read scripture, think about my kids in Ethiopia, watch great runners on youtube, think of not allowing my flesh to win.  Also I think of all of you out there working out and it gives me the motivation to do it.  Listening to worship music when you work out is so wonderful.  You can just worship the entire time.  I often will be running and crying and just lift my hands in worship.

motivation

This morning I ran seven miles on the treadmill at the Y as part of my half marathon training. I admit that before I even got there, I was somewhat dreading it. Half of the running club I recently joined was going outside, but I opted for the indoor run today, since the windchill was around zero degrees. God provided me with a new friend I recently met who ran next to me. We chatted the entire time, and before I knew it, the miles were done. It was a great uplifting chat, and God gave me the opportunity to speak truth into her life. I was almost sad when it was over.

Just want to remind everyone how much more motivating it can be to work out with a friend. To push and challenge each other in our physical fitness as well as spiritual fitness is priceless. Who do you need to call today to help you stay motivated? Try to meet up with someone in the next two weeks. It's an incredible boost to the system. Love you all!

p.s. photo is of me zip-lining in maui. you gotta try it.

no boys allowed...except this once

DECIDE.

COMMIT.

SUCCEED.

FiRsT TiMeR!!

Welp this is my first time writing on the blog.. so I suppose I should introduce myself! I am Ellie Stutzman, Jake sister aka Jen's sister in law. And I don't know why I haven't gotten on here sooner, but I finally here. Anywho.. as for my workouts they have been going great! I just decided a week and a half ago to train for the Lincoln Half Marathon. and for those who don't know me I AM NOT A RUNNER! LOL. I have never loved or even liked to run, but with training for the triathalon I have found that I think best and have my best alone time when I am running. So I decided to tackle the challenge of a half marathon. And I figured that it would put me in good shape for the triathalon so Rhonda doesn't have to persuade me to keep running this year at the 1mile marker! lol. Well I'm excited to be apart of this blog and am excited to be doing the triathalong with everyone again this year!! This is the verse that is getting me through all this training! Its an awesome verse! Check it out if you don't know it! Psalm 18:31-36

Ellie Stutzman

just so you know

I already washed all of your tanks so when they get to you they are ready to wear.  Here is a list of all the trainers some are not on the blog yet but are training for the triathlon.

Elizabeth Peshek, Juniata, NE

Rachel Haynes, Doniphan, NE

Katie Reynolds, Hastings, NE

Jennifer Stutzman, Muscle Shoals, AL

Rachel Barry, Tuscumbia, AL

Leslie Glass, Tuscumbia, AL

Erin Fisher, Lincoln, NE

Amy Uhrmacher Lincoln, NE

Hannah Randell, Grand Island, NE

Jan Thom (she will never write on the blog but is training), Doniphan, NE

Abby McNair, Imperial, NE

Amanda Thom, Omaha, NE

Katie Ebers, Omaha, NE

Annie Young, Florence, AL

Ellie Stutzman, Manhattan, KS

Sue Lessor?, Hastings, NE

Julie Thompson?, Tuscumbia, NE

Here is the team, that is so exciting!!!!

Tanks are on there way to you.

Me wearing the new tanks.

We received the tanks yesterday and I sent them out to all of you today.  I have one request,  I want you all to take a picture of yourself in your new tank (be creative).  These tanks are a symbol of our team effort to not be lazy and to get ready for the triathlon.  I rode my bike for the first time today and it was so fun.  I am reading book called marathon mom and it is so great.  There is a chapter just dedicated to the health benefits of running and how that makes us better mamas and wives.  At times I know we all think I am too tired to work out but if we would just do it we would have a burst of energy to get through the day.  I find that the days I work out I have a spring in my step and the days I don't it drags.  I can't wait to see you all in your new work out tanks.

Update

I wanted to update you all on my new goals and how it is going. My goals three weeks ago were: 40 min. of cardio 5x/week. "Deciding" was easy, "Committing" is a great struggle. It is part of my self-denial. My "self" wants to forget about my commitment and relax. Self-denial says, "Never give in, but do give up that hour of internet or tv to move your body." I have stayed committed and I lost 2 lbs. in the last three weeks, which is encouraging. Most importantly, I feel my body getting stronger and better able to push. As for clothes, I have a ways to go. Oh, Yeah!

DENY

It's something that I started my first year in college...I would write the words DENY FLESH on the inside of my wrist to remind myself of my tendency to give into the desires of my flesh. The last few days I've been thinking bout this quest of denial...about beating my body to make it my slave...about may willfull sins not rule over me...about counting all as lost compaired to knowing Christ. It seems so much falls into place when we become disciplined. I've been so surprised the last few years how the discipline of this physical body so often is directly related to spiritual discipline. As physical exercise gets harder and hearder for me ( I'm 32 weeks pregnant and growing every day) the mental strength it takes to get up and get moving is unlike anything I've ever fought...but there is something about moving that puts my heart at ease and my soul at rest. I just wanted to encourage all of you girls...not that physical activity would be an idol but that you would strive for discipline- just getting up and out to move and in those times to meet with your Creator who so graciously gave us the ability to run, jump and play! I pray that exercise would draw us closer to our Lord and not more in love with our bodies- that will soon fade away.
Let us press on to know the Lord. Nothing that is worthwhile comes with out a fight!

Thinking of you!

This morning I was out for a jog and I was thinking and praying for you all.  I was feeling very weak this morning and the jog was so hard (i had a yellow fever vaccination this Wed. and it was hard on my body).  I just wanted to encourage you all to keep going.  Especially for all of you that had a baby in this last year.  Your body is tired and been through so much.  Be patient with yourself while you push your body to get back into shape.    I know how it feels to be so discouraged with working out because it is so hard.  I know how it feels to be so discouraged to not be able to fit into any of your clothes (i still can't get into some of my clothes).  Don't overly beat your body into submission because that will backfire on you.  Do workout even when you don't want to.  Don't starve yourself or overeat.  Do be kind to your body and feed it what will benefit it.  As Jake's mom says, NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS IT FEELS TO BE HEALTHY.  I am so thankful for you all.  I am so encouraged by your commitment to be healthy.  May God give us all the strength we need to do what we must.

ROMANS 12:1-2

   Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to PRESENT YOUR BODIES a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual  service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

No Sugar

So, about a month ago Jake and I decided to go off of sweets.  We desired more energy and a stronger immune system.  Also I am already moody and I know that sugar alters our moods and zaps our energy.  I am about to have five children I need all the energy I can get.  So, it is going really well.  The first few weeks I had some really hard days and was very angry.  I had a headache and really wanted to eat sugar.  It is not that we don't eat any sugar.  We eat fruits and I put honey in things.  I put sugar in a salad dressing I make.  Mostly we are just trying to not do desserts unless it is a very special occasion.  It is going very well.  I have a lot more energy so that is exciting and my craving seem to go away a little more each day.  My dear friend Annie Young is teaching me all kinds of fun ways to cook without sugar.  I am very thankful for the self-control God has granted us to not give in.    Of course it has also been very beneficial to the kiddos to not have desserts.  I don't know if we will live like this the rest of our lives, but I would like to.  So now I have more energy to work out and that makes it so much more fun.

running in the country...

Hi friends.  I'm not sure what day it is or when I said I was going to run 2 miles.  But today was the day.  This is soooo funny to me.  I asked sam's dad if he knew where I could run to that would be about 2 miles and this is what he said, "Run out on the dirt road that goes to the Payne's house.  They are the ones who have cattle at the first intersection. The Hoffmeister's live on that road and if you run 2 or 3 telephone poles past their house , you will have run about a mile."  It was early in the morning and I just laughed out loud.  Who are the Payne's and who are the Hoffmeisters:)  ?????  I had to ask a few questions, but ended up headed in the right direction.

REgardless, I got my run in and it was good.  It is so quiet in the country and there are few worldy distractions when all you see is corn, gravel and cattle.   I have been working on pushing myself to work harder in many areas of my life and working out is one of them.  Praise the Lord for his patience and faithfulness.   Hoping to walk 45 minutes tomorrow.  (on gravel)

love to all - can't wait for my tank - it was so nice here today - makes me excited for warmer days.

thanks for praying liz.  

Can We Make the Cut?

Hi Ladies! I just figured out how to post on here so I am excited. I have been trying to get my body into shape for the Big DAY. It has not been easy, but I have had a good time doing it and an even better time seeing results. I love challenging myself to do things I never thought possible. So, I have been reading up on all the new health news and I found this very interesting. When you are training for something as intense as a Triathlon, Jillian Michael’s (one of the trainers from NBC’s Biggest Looser) recommends that you stay off the sauce; that’s right ladies no booze. Some of you are breast feeding and that is not a problem for you but for everyone else, beware! I learned that alcohol causes water loss and dehydration; you can lose important minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc. These minerals are vital to the maintenance of fluid balance, fat metabolism, and muscle contraction. Recent research shows that alcohol releases estrogen into the bloodstream. Not only does estrogen promote fat storage and inhibit muscle growth, but frequent estrogen spikes in the body have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Ok, so I guess we all have some new fun facts to think about! Thanks for all the support, and everyone enjoy their weekend.

The tanks are ordered

Well Ladies, Jake ordered the tank tops today.  I cannot wait to send them to you all.  Funny  story, so this morning I got an email saying I needed to come pick up my medal at the church.  I guess I placed second in my age group at the race I did this last Saturday.  Julie my friend placed first in her age group.  we are just laughing about it.  We did not stay for the award ceremony because we didn't think for a moment that we could receive any sort of award.  I will post a picture of us with our medals when we get them.  It just cracks me up.  

moving

Hi all.  For those of you who don't know, we recently moved to western nebraska.  My workouts lately have consisted of lifting heavy things and running the stairs at my mother-in-laws.:)  I am trying to work in workouts between the painting, fly swatting and parenting, but so far have been unsuccessful.  I appreciate all of your posts... keep posting!  It encourages me to work hard to get workouts in and honor God with this body he's given.  I have been working on getting up early (for two days:) and it has been great.  Aria has been waking up at 5:45... (time change), so as I work her into a new schedule, I am getting up early and having lots of time to read, do pushups and situps:), and just be.  Tomorrow I am going to run 2 miles... Decide. Commit. Succeed.

Just thinking of you all and praising God for the encouragement he's given through this blog.

loves