Category: #luxuriouslyhard

Uncomfortably Hard

~ Monica ~ 1 Comment

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill

My toe? It’s not broken. It’s still causing me problems, but it’s getting better and while running isn’t currently happening I am keeping on keeping on with the bike and the rower. Just getting that out of the way so I can get to the uncomfortably hard thing this post is about.

I was sharing my marathon journey with a co-worker, because are you really training for a marathon if you aren’t telling EVERYONE about it?? And he mentioned he was getting ready to run a marathon relay and fundraising for Compassion International. I had no idea there was a Team Compassion out there running and fundraising. A little background…

Michael worked for Compassion for 16 years. His job is how we ended up in Thailand. I currently work for Compassion and I recently celebrated my 8 year work-a-versary and before either of us worked for Compassion we sponsored kids. This year marks our 20th anniversary as sponsors and during that time we have supported seven children in four different countries. We have had the joy of visiting several of the children and have seen the incredible changes that are possible when a local church comes alongside a family in poverty.

I found the fundraising thing intriguing. And also scary. I don’t like asking people for things. And I really, really don’t like asking people for things that involve their money. It’s uncomfortable – a different kind of uncomfortable than running a marathon. I figure since I’m taking on hard things, why not do this and get uncomfortable? So here goes…

Globally, 800 children die daily from water-born disease from unsafe water. The funds you donate will provide vulnerable children living in poverty access to clean and safe drinking water—preventing life-threatening diseases and allowing them to stay in school and focus their energy on overcoming poverty. Your donations will provide essential water infrastructure such as wells, rainwater harvesting systems, and water storage and filtration, in addition to vital hygiene education. 

If you would be interested in donating to support me in this effort follow this link to my fundraising page.

A Harder Thing

~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ~ Corrie ten Boom

In the past few years we’ve (we = my husband, Michael, and myself) have had our fair share of hard things to deal with. Some happened to us and I feel comfortable talking about those in this space.

  • His best friend tried to kill him.
  • My cervical spine disc replacement.
  • My heart failure.

Others impacted us, but we weren’t the main character and I don’t feel comfortable talking about those because they really aren’t my story to tell.

But for the past year the hardest thing we’ve had is Michael’s job loss. Which was definitely not our choice, but also choices could have been made that did not equal job loss. It’s complicated.

However… he has never had a chance to think about what he really wants to be when he grows up. He was in college when we got married. We had our first kiddo before he graduated. No regrets there, but it also meant that once he graduated there wasn’t any time to think about what he really wanted to do. He was able to find something he enjoyed, but he always had to balance it with what would support our growing family. A year ago he was “provided the opportunity” to think about what he wants to be when he grows up AS A GROWN UP – that’s pretty amazing. So he took it. I mean we took it.

And for me that is the complicated part. I 100% support him and this decision. He did ask me. I have had to continuously remind myself over the past year of this truth, because I 100% would have preferred the security of a job.

He has spent the last year working really hard to make something happen, but also taking some time to invest in himself. He’s put some tools in his toolbelt that provide him ways to reach out to others and help them live better lives, and there is the potential he could leverage that into income. (Any one feeling the need for spiritual direction?) He’s been able to focus time on some passion projects – his consulting business and children’s ministry. He did some contract work and we thought we’d found part of the answer to what the future might look like, but the contract work was with the government and that all has been a wee bit unstable lately.

We’ve spent the last year

  • trusting God
  • praying (probably not as much as we should have)
  • discussing (also probably not as much as we should have)
  • having fun
  • waiting

And the time has come. The job search is beginning in earnest. We are not at the point of desperation, the point of any job will do. We are at the point of the search needs to look different than it has so that we don’t get to the point of desperation. We’ve been here before. It’s how we ended up in Thailand. I do not feel like we are at the point of me applying for jobs for Michael. Or at the point of moving countries (not saying we wouldn’t do it). But we are at the point of something needs to happen. I know it and Michael knows it.

And now I have to do the harder thing. Trust. Trust Michael to do what needs to be done. But even more than that is the Trust God part.

Adap-toe-ble

~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

If I do have a strength, it probably is adaptability. ~ Monty Williams

Accidentally kicked a door and now I’m negotiating my first unplanned training adaptation. Wasn’t going to go to the Dr because what do they do for an injured toe? But the limp I have started causing discomfort up my leg and I thought it best to know what I was dealing with – a break, a jam, a sprain, just some swelling – and how best to recover without causing other issues.

I managed to get a same day appt and then a quick trip to radiology for an X-ray. All to end up with a very unsatisfactory answer. They don’t see a break, but the doctor doesn’t have confidence that the X-ray is reliable due to swelling. So I’m in a boot for 10 days. Then we’ll reassess. Best case scenario that will be enough time to allow it to heal or at least give evidence that it’s healing. We’re not gonna talk about any other scenario.

So no running for now. Thankfully I have other options for continuing to train – janky bike and c2 rower to the rescue – and I’m still a ways out from actual marathon training.

working out with myself 🤣

Adventuring

~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

Be careful going in search of adventure – it’s ridiculously easy to find. ~ William Least Heat-Moon

Two weekends. Two National Parks.

Last weekend my daughter and I headed to the Eastern Range of the Rocky Mountains to Montrose. We spent a day in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Our original plan was to spend two days in the park. Day one on the south rim and day two on the north rim, but the north rim is currently closed. Lucky for us, Colorado isn’t lacking for beautiful places to see. So we spent day two driving the Million Dollar Highway and hiking in Ouray.

This weekend Michael and I headed to Estes Park for a visit to the YMCA of the Rockies. It’s nestled right up next to Rocky Mountain National Park. Honestly, the YMCA property had more to offer than we could see in a weekend, but we have a National Park Pass, so how could we not take a little hike there?

The first trip I opted to change my training plan and know that I would be okay. This weekend I chose to stick to my plan, knowing I wouldn’t want to. I’d be tired and it wouldn’t be convenient. And I think it was the right call for both.

On the trip with my daughter we came up with my next plan. My what to do after the marathon plan. We’re gonna take on an epic backpacking trip through the Maroon Bells Four Loop Pass. We’ll do it sometime around August of 2026. I’m gonna have to work hard to not get distracted planning for that adventure while I’m trying to stay focused on my marathon adventure.

Balance

~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

I do find that there’s a fine balance between preparation and seeing what happens naturally. ~ Timothee Chalamet

I’m a rule follower. And I’m in the early days of marathon training. And I have crafted a very bespoke PLAN. And I have some already scheduled and some not so scheduled things interfering with my PLAN. It has been stressing me out. A lot. Not being able to get my 2.25 mile run in because a 10k hike got in the way had me worried that I’d ruined my marathon. But then I took a moment to think on it. And I realized a 10k hike was probably an okay substitute for a 2.25 mile run.

It has me thinking I cannot spend the next 7.5 months so attached to my PLAN that i miss out on important things. But… I also have to know there are important things I might miss out on because of my PLAN. It’s a balance. It’s a struggle. Maybe it’s #luxuriouslyhard

Putting the Plan in Place

~ Monica ~ 1 Comment

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. ~ Pablo Picasso

I’ve spent some time – maybe, possibly, most definitely more than necessary – coming up with a training plan to get me through the next 34 weeks. Is it a perfect plan? Certainly not, but I’m confident it will get me across the finish line.

I’m starting out building my base mileage and getting in some strength training. I’m basically doing a 5k plan followed by a 10k plan and then pivoting to marathon training. Run/walk is gonna be my jam knowing that it’s gonna get hard #luxuriouslyhard

Week one is almost done.