Hi!!
Long time no talk but I didn’t get home last night until late and I promptly passed out! Here’s a little recap of the past day!
Yesterday I went to my office, aka Starbucks, and enjoyed another lovely nonfat pumpkin spice latte while writing a True/Slant article on ways to prevent the flu!
For some reason I always am more productive when I work there instead of at my house. I feel like I’m back in college again!
Once home, I dug into a kiwi like it was an apple!
Yes, I do eat the skin of kiwi and I like it! Very fibrous and chewy. 
Plus, it saves time peeling and slicing.
And then around 6:15, Stacey picked me up for the Created bible study. Guys, I didn’t take pictures of dinner because it seemed like whipping out my camera at such a time was just not appropriate. I hope you can understand! I enjoyed an absolutely delicious meal of homemade chicken tortilla soup with cheddar cheese and those yummy scoops tortilla chips! One of the women also made strawberry shortcake for dessert and it was just wonderful!
The actual study was very…….powerful and REAL. I had a really, really powerful and emotional night and know it was absolutely the right decision that I was there and I plan to go back. Created is a ministry designated to helping these women off the streets, women with addictions, women just getting out of jail, get back on their feet and function again in society, knowing that their true beauty has been “created” in Christ. When they live in the Created house, they have to have been clean for 30 days and want to accept Christ into their hearts to start their lives over. Last night I had the privilege of hanging out with these amazingly strong women and let’s just say it puts a lot of things in perspective. After dinner we studied a passage in Phillipians and talked about different connections we have with people and how this relates back to God. Being in a room with such strong women filled with love is just an empowering experience and totally brought me to my knees.
Afterwards, Stacey and I went out for a glass of wine to chat more. I had a lovely glass of California pinot noir…my fave! 
And then this morning………………..da da da DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I RAN 7 MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I totally took this picture just to remind myself that I actually did it!)
To start: I really did NOT want to run this morning. I didn’t fall asleep until around midnight and when the alarm went off at 5:30 I reallyyyyy wanted to turn it off and roll back over. So I did. For 30 minutes. I finally arose at 6:00, had a slice of Ezekiel bread with almond butter, preserves and half a banana, and got to taping up my feet. I just want to say that my blisters really have healed! As we all know, blisters mean we have to toughen up and callous our skin so the rubbing of shoes doesn’t affect us anymore. The blisters on my heels were really okay….the one on my sole of my foot sort of hurt but it really wasn’t that big of a deal. The doctor gave me this AWESOME product last week and it totally saved my life!
I wish I could tell you where to buy these reusable gelly pads but I think you can only get them from a doctor. They are amazing! I had to cut them and cover them with moleskin and medical tape (so they wouldn’t shift around), but they really did save my life. I only had to stop once and do a little emergency band-aid surgery at my half-way point and apply another blister pad to the sole of my foot. Note to self: always take band-aids with you on long runs!
I think I finished in pretty good time considering I did stop and sit down on the side of the road at one point to fix my blister pads. I also walked a few times. My shins started aching near the end and when I got home I immediately stretched and iced like it was my job. I actually got really hungry around mile 6 and wished I would have brought a shot block or something but I just sipped my gatorade and pressed onward. Next time!
And then I ATE!!
This is a pineapple Chobani with 1/2 cup Almond Ezekiel cereal, 1/4 cup Udi’s granola, goji berries and blueberries. I INHALED it.
I’m still a little behind in my training because I had to take the past two weeks off really due to blisters but I think I’m going to be okay. This coming up week I’m going to do HILLS and then have an 8 mile run planned for next Saturday. I can’t believe my race is next month!!!!!
On the agenda today is college football with my dad!!!! My two favorite teams are playing—Ohio State and BAMA!!!! I love Saturdays in the fall for this specific reason. Nothing better than relaxing on the couch in jeans and a t-shirt and watching college football. Okay…so I’m secretly a guy….except instead of nachos and dips, I prefer raw almonds and green smoothies.
Time for a snack!
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Great job on the run! You mush have been thrilled! I also eat kiwi skin…I called it a throat exfoliant! HA!
I’m definitely going to eat the kiwi with skin next time I have one…give it a try!
That ministry sounds amazing. Its such a great new start for these women.
I hear you on the blister thing. My big one on my instep finally healed and is a nice callous now. But I have moleskin just to be sure.
Congrats on the 7 miles!
All of this pumpkin spice latte talk led me to Starbucks today! It was sooooo good! Thanks for the heads up that they were back. You could “read” your smile in your post and how touched you were by your experience last night. Isn’t it funny how when we go to give to others, somehow we end up leaving with more than we came with? I’m always amazed by the way your heart fills when you experience something like that.
I’m more productive at Starbucks too! I like to call it my office
Yayyy!!! I’m so happy you could do the whole 7 miles
Great job!
I love the article on the flu! Both my husband and our roommate were sick this week. They tested negative for the flu, but I swear it was my daily green monster, tea, salad, exercise, and prayer that helped keep me healthy, especially since I was having a week of poor sleep!
Jenna, the Bible study sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing with us and can’t wait to read more!
Congratulations on your run! That’s great. You’re going to rock your half marathon next month. I’m running my first marathon at the very end of this month, and am kind of freaking out. (Mostly in a good way?) I do hope that my anxiety will prove motivational to my running, rather than a hindrance…we’ll see!
Your night at Created sounds truly like a truly memorable, emotional experience. It is wonderful that women who have the desire to improve their lives, but may sadly lack the resources to do so, can find a place of solace and empowerment in Created. I can’t express how important that is. All throughout high school and college (when I was home during breaks), I volunteered with my mom at a shelter for abused and exploited women and children. I can honestly say that this was the most important work I’ve ever done. The strength of these women, some of whom have been in unimaginable situations, is beyond inspiring. Your post really made me reflect upon my experiences volunteering at this shelter, and has motivated my decision to do some research about volunteer opportunities at similar shelters in my new city.
Have a great Sunday!
the Created program sound like a really positive thing to be a part of. congrats on getting out on the road, even though you didn’t feel like it and had sore feet. way to be dedicated! good luck on your training!
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