Krissy Thomas

Here we are at the birthday dinner for our fabulous running mentor and friend, Cindy, who is in the middle of the picture. She’s fast, strong, smart and a pretty swell gal! I dream of being as fast as Cindy some day.

One week from today we will run our second marathon together. “Together” should be interpreted very loosely as Cindy will smoke us and will be sitting at the finish with a frosty beverage in hand while Hannah and I drag ourselves across the line.:)

Strangely enough these girls and I connected as we trained for San Francisco together last year and our friendship has evolved into something quite unexpected but sooo rewarding.

I guess I’ve discovered the beauty about running with people through these girls. You end up seeing each other completely undone in every sense of the word. No make-up, but also no pretenses and no false images of grandeur because we see and know how each other struggles with hurt, pain, joy and life. There have been days when one or all of have been moody and/or distant. There have been days where we have not wanted to run, but the peer pressure kept us going. There have been days when we have laughed through 10 miles and not thought twice about the mileage. We’ve had running therapy sessions, we’ve had running comedy sessions and we’ve had running in quiet sessions.We have run miles and miles and miles together in the sun, wind, snow and rain talking about our highs, lows, sicknesses, aches, pains and everything in between and through it all we’ve known that we can be ourselves.

Experiences in the past few years have brought some very dear friends into my life and these women are two of them. I know I can count on them at any minute of the day. They have nurtured me, loved me and allowed me to be…once again, “undone” in front of them and I am so very thankful for that. Seriously, anyone who holds my hair back while I vomit is my friend for life! Also, anyone who holds my hand while i whine is my friend for life! And anyone who knows way too many details of my digestive system is my friend for life. (That would be a runner’s joke);)

I am so thankful for the chance to run another race with them while we keep putting in miles on this marathon of life together.

Eric Liddell: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.

Last week, I watched the movie, Chariots of Fire… partly out of curiosity because I’d never seen the movie, and partly out of a need for inspiration with my running. Eric Liddell’s story is awe inspiring. He was a humble man with an incredible talent and a greater ability to recognize there was a greater force and purpose to his life than what people saw and stood in awe of.

Most impressive to me was seeing how he stretched his ability to full capacity because he felt that God took pleasure in it. What an amazing concept…to think that God takes pleasure in us when we fulfill the gifts he’s given us to their maximum potential!?! Can you just see it now? God, smiling at us like our proud pappa because he sees how we value what he gave us?

I’m not gonna lie, cuz I do sometimes wish I had the talents of an Olympic athlete, a gifted singer or a fantastic artist, but I don’t. I mean, yeah, I’m athletic…a little, but you really don’t want me to sing and I can only draw stick figures. If I were to sit and think of all the talents/abilities I don’t have, the list would be a mile long, but if I allow myself to think about what in me brings pleasure to God, then the things are simple, but possibly as weighty as someone who does “great” things like win medals and stuff that everyone can see.

Sometimes when I run, I too can feel God smiling at me because he made my body (and yours) to run and run well…not in the way that Eric Liddell ran, but He formed this maze of intricate nerves, muscles, tendons, fibers, bones and skin to be uniquely me. Maybe I won’t ever run a mile in 4:34, but that’s not the point…because that’s not what I was made me for.

So, today…what is/are the gift(s) that you have that brings pleasure to God? Do you actually use your gifts and talents or are you hiding it away because it’s not what you wanted, or because your friends have “better” gifts?

When I focus on my gift(s), I can count them on one hand, but I’m OK with that. Out of those “gifts”…the one thing that jumps out at me is in knowing that I was made to be a nurturer…specifically to my two kids, and sometimes to any kids I can grab hold of. I joke about being a “lioness” but really when it comes down to it, being a mother is something I guard with my life. I recognize that God takes pleasure in my abilities as a mother because He knows I’ve poured myself into being the best for my cubs. Maybe it won’t win any medals or prizes that anyone will see, but seeing who they are becoming is simply amazing.

So, no… I’m never gonna make it to the Olympics and I’ll never have a CD made(You really should be thankful for this)and my work will never be displayed in a museum, but…I am going to be the best mother and in that I can feel His pleasure.

thankful for:

finishing our 20 mile run…no more super-long runs till the actual marathon!
the beautiful views on the first 4 miles
the golden path of leaves we ran on.
the sounds of a rushing creek/river along our path.
the first 8 miles where i was gleeful and had a chance to be grateful
for the goodness in life.
the following 6 miles where i felt buffeted/crushed and minuscule in comparison to the wind i was running against.
my friends who built me up when i felt i could go no further.
my friend who held out her hand to me when i wanted to give up.
my friend who told me she knew i could finish the 20.
the gu that gave me boosts of energy.
the water that kept me going.
the last 6 miles where the wind was at our backs and the trail was downhill…mostly.
the music in my ears…especially van morrison and “brown eyed girl.”
seeing my little green car waiting for me.
an automatic vehicle that requires no effort to drive with achy legs.
the opportunity to run and feel the hurt of functioning muscles, joints and bones.
the opportunity to understand that i am blessed through the pain, setbacks and preparation for every race…literal or figurative.
the knowledge that even when i run alone…i’m never alone.

I haven’t run more than 10 miles in the past 2 weeks.
Know why that is not a good thing for me? Well you see… I have a marathon coming up in a few weeks. Yes, I know, last year I did the play by play on all the track practices, training runs and shoe purchases, but this year…well, I’ve been a bit crazed.

So, 2 Saturdays ago I had a scheduled 17 mile run. My usual running buddies were not with me that lovely day, so I decided to start in one spot, run south for 4.5 miles, return to my starting spot and do the potty/water/fuel break, then run north for 4 miles and return. It was a great idea and logistically it was perfect because it broke up the length so well.

My lungs felt great and my stride felt awesome and the day was beautiful.
I ran up into the Air Force Academy grounds watching the graceful flights of blue and white parachutes and yellow gliders overhead. The sky was so blue and perfect.
I decided, on mile 16, to do a quick break at the port-o-potty before my big finish so i stopped and read about the possibility of getting bit by a west Nile virus carrying mosquito if i proceeded to the lake. Thought about that probability and decided that would NOT be a good option and then proceeded to start my running again…

EXCEPT…I couldn’t start up again. My right knee stopped working! “Um, hello, leg, I’m telling you to move, now let’s try this again”
Guess what? The leg was willing, the knee was not. My sweet little knee pretty much screamed at me and said she hated me and never wanted to speak to me again!

“But, but, but…Knee, I need you and I love you and why would you let me think that all was well for 16 miles and then suddenly decide to stop? No other body part is hurting or complaining! Be a team player! What did I do to deserve this from you anyway? Oh…you mean, you don’t like the mileage i put on you without warning? Oh you’re not a big fan of the shoes that need to be replaced? Oh, you mean to tell me you’re not gonna take this kind of (ab)use anymore?! Well…Ok, fine, well, where does that leave the rest of us body parts? You don’t care?! Well, since we have no other choice, Can we please go to therapy?

So, there you have it folks, my life as a crazy person who gives personalities to my body parts. Yes,I’m going to therapy…for my knee this week!!! I’m so freakin’ excited that I can’t even stand it! I’m hoping that the doctor is a magic man cuz, I need a little bit o magic in my achey knee(s) and i’m hoping that i walk in and he waves a wand and zippity doo da, all will be well.

What?!?! A girl can hope can’t she?!