I seem to be having issues loading the videos - boo. Oh well. They were just little documentaries for me to entertain myself since I went to the race buddy-less.


Sign: Ambulance by the finish line. Good or bad? You decide.




More documenting to make the day fun and lower expectations.

I mentioned bowel movements in the previous vid, & thought this bathroom sign was quite appropriate. :)



Pre-race jitters. Chatting, stretching, jumping, medical crew on stand-by, laughing (nervously), some awaiting the free beer at mile 1, others trying not to think about the self-inflicted pain to come.


Pre-race.





With PennDOT wanting to charge extra for using their roads, the race director decided to have a 'Crossfire start' where the participants start at one of two places and then have to cross each others paths to scurry on up a hill and begin the race. It was great! I just yelled. (The subtle expletive is not me but still funny). Unfortunately I accidentally pre-maturely stopped the video. I meant for it to go longer and get a clip of the 3 inches of mud on the hill and the guy beside me happily declaring, "This is f***ing crazy!" while race volunteers are directing "up the hill! up the hill!" So classic, and so on par.


Fellow "Dingers" (what the race director named the participants) careening straight down a slightly steep embankment. Understatement. See the race volunteers standing on the road waaay down below?


Only for the trail to go right back up. Walking was an option I did lower myself to. Sigh. (more like GASP for air)


I may have done more walking than I had hoped, but there was also mudding, stream crossings, pricker picking, slush, ice (witnessed a few good wipe outs & called one guy 'Safe!'), and yes, mud. I personally missed the snow cover from last year. My descents received recognition from other racers but I wasn't able to make quite as many downhill passes as the year of the snow.
I heard one 'Dinger say pre-race gazing up into the mountain race course, "It is so beautifully warm out. It is going to be a swamp out there." True.


Wet from the head first slide finish, muddy, slightly dissatisfied, tired but happy the pain was over. Mission: Accomplished.

Another Dinger quote, "This wasn't a race. It was an experience." Hmm. Yes. But I also use that description to cover up the fact that the mountain kicked my bum!


Nappy bear suit. Unexpected outcome in hand. Kodak moment.

There were about 350 pre-registered racers. At the time I left for home only 285 timing chips had come in. The race director's wife told me at most events they have to send a search party out to find people! Gah!

All's well that ends well because its not how well you start, its how you finish. In this case, I'm just glad I finished!

a few of my favorite things

Seeing friends at a public event. (Note: the fact that it was a memorial service for our friend is NOT a favorite thing but he would love that quality fellowship was a result of remembering his life)

Having food in my cupboards, fridge and freezer.

Inviting friends over to my house to indulge in said stockage of food.

Impromptu get togethers!

Cooking together.

Figuring out just how many plates & cups I have.

Having people hang out in my living room.

Getting busted on for my embarrassingly awkward childhood photos.

Doing dishes twice in one day because of having company twice.

Vacuuming dirt off my floor because there were little feet in the house.

Notes added to my white board.

Laughter.

My face hurting from so much smiling.




This post was inspired by Sunday evening I ended up inviting a bunch of friends for the memorial service over for an impromptu dinner/hang out night. It was fun. It ended up being 5 boys and a middle aged couple and me. Random. We had supper and then ended up laughing at my elementary school photos.

gray. the human factor

The more 'life' I have, the more jaded I feel about some things.
The top three, in no particular order (at the time of this blogging) are
1.) Marriage
2.) God's will
3.) right & wrong

I really don't need to write about marriage, finding one's 'soul mate' or contentment because I could read what everyone else has to say about it for the rest of my life and still be at the same junction. And single.

God's will is awesome, perfect, right and out of my realm of human rationalization. Do we cheapen the holiness of God when we attribute all the coincidences in life as God's will? Or do we fail to recognize his intricate compassion for our very being if we don't? I had just turned the ignition of my car to go return a book to its owner who'd asked for it back a few days ago when my phone rang and she was checking to see if I remembered. "Must be the Lord's will" she says. Really? I don't know...

I don't claim to be in tune with God's spirit and know His will all the time. I'm just not that good. or disciplined. Am I being lackluster by not chasing after Him, normal, or safe for acknowledging that His ways are higher, MUCH higher, than mine? After all, I do believe that if I make a decision that isn't in his will, he'll turn it back into something good. He teaches lessons through our mistakes. He is capable of doing what He wants with or without me.

And when making a decision, especially bigger ones, there is so much gray area to sort through. Gray, the human factor. I think if everything were up to God, there would be a whole lot more black and white. It would be easy - love people. Have joy. Find peace. Practice self control. But there's this nasty little thing called sin. And oh, the way it plays out with human free will. Lord have mercy!
Have you ever tried to decide how to go about a situation, seeking counsel from others, taking time to weigh pros & cons, praying for guidance and still have no idea what is "right"? Of course you have, we all have. Seeking counsel from those we trust can be good because they think of perspectives and questions that were as out of your thought process as Pooh Bear never eating honey again. I'll talk with one person, kinda have my mind settled one way then talk to another who brings up equally good points and suggestions and start leaning towards the opposite decision. Ever get sick on a sea saw? That's what it feels like. Guess it boils down to having to trust God to make it clear - to ME. As I spend time with him, dwell in His word, listen. Yes, considering the counsel of others is good but you can't depend on them to make the decision for you.

And after a decision is made, the comforting thing is, its not too late for God to change things up, close the door, open up a window instead or upset the fruit basket. When involving others in big decision making, its important to be thankful for their time of listening and advice (even if it comes unsolicited) not to burn bridges and to gauge if they are a dependable support no matter where you go with the decision. While others aren't supposed to make our decisions, you may have to put up with "I told you so's", disapproving looks and a dose of humility in accepting their conditional support because you do need others to get you through.

About the worst thing we can do is second guess ourselves. If it turns out you've made a decision you regret, apologize, do what you can to rectify the situation and move on. Keep hope alive. All is not lost.