Reflection on the Longest Day Marathon 🏃‍♀️

It’s been 2 weeks but feels like months ago…

I sent a recent update and reflection on the Longest Day Marathon to my pledge supporters and decided to share it via my long-abandoned blog, for both my own processing and anyone interested in reading my thoughts. 🤔💭 Here’s a blog version of what I wrote:

Official Results: 79.5 miles completed!

Sunup = 5:15am, Sundown = 8:29pm

Step 1: I invited & trained – complete ✔

Step 2: People pledged – complete ✔

Step 3: I ran (a lot of steps actually) – complete ✔

Step 4: People gave – ongoing ✔

Step 5: A lot of kids get access to clean water (our team of 12 people together raised over $100,000, providing clean water for more than 2,000 kids!) 🙌🏻

In reflection on the experience of the Longest Day Marathon, here, exactly 2 weeks afterward, I’m sitting down to put some words to the multitude of feelings and thoughts I’ve had since. The time has gone so quickly and it’s rapidly becoming only a wonderful memory. I’ve given my body rest and my mind time to reflect and I have to say…it’s still surreal. It doesn’t seem real that 2 weeks ago I was within 1.5 hours of finishing the all-day run and completing just shy of 80 miles. A few things that have reminded me it really happened:

• my GPS watch that tracked the activity along with my step count for the day — don’t know that I’ll ever see that step count again
• my body’s gradual recovery over the last several days (more on that momentarily)
• the many people who were there to witness the 12 of us completing this crazy all-day run
  

  The 12 of us just after finishing.

  

  My parents and biggest supporters.

It’s difficult to believe that 14 days ago I went home — having run in circles from sunup to sundown for a total of 79.5 miles — showered, soaked in a bath of Epsom salt, and fell into a restless night of sleep with an aching body. On June 21st every mile I ran past 26.2 (a marathon) was farther than I’d ever previously run in a single day. I was asked a number of times how it felt to be at a new longest distance and my response was that it wasn’t really registering for me. My mind knew I still had more to go. The mind is an amazing thing. Getting up that morning, knowing I was going to run from sunup to sundown and pace myself with running/walking in order to accomplish as many miles as possible, my mind knew the “goal” wasn’t accomplished until 8:30pm. There were more miles to run and more lives to forever change with access to clean water.

The longest day marathon was simultaneously a challenge like I’ve never experienced before and easier than I anticipated. The physical and mental challenge to focus and continue putting one foot in front of another regardless of pain, especially in the latter part of the day, was something I actually kind of enjoyed. A bit masochistic in nature? Possibly. There’s joy found by digging deep within to push limits and find the potential in the body and the fortitude of the mind. God made us amazingly, you guys! It’s been phenomenal to learn what my body is capable of and how quickly its recovered strength and felt the urge to run again! Yes, I’ve wanted to run again. I first noticed the hint of desire to run last Tuesday (June 25th) but, having read about how to best recover from an ultra marathon, I decided to give my body full rest from running until the point I feel I should be running and then give it another three days. So, having felt a strong urge to run this past Monday, I ran for the first time again yesterday — Independence Day — and felt the freedom of running! 🇺🇸🎆😎 The feasibility of that depended on the disappearance of the lingering tenderness in my hips, knees, and ankles, which I aggravated a bit by a 16-mile bike ride on the 28th and a few hours of dancing on the 29th evening. That said, on the 27th I had a consultation with a physical therapist and was grateful to learn that none of what I was experiencing was injury beyond the typical wear that happens when one runs 80 miles in a day. While proper training prior to the run and fueling on the day of the run were major factors to helping my body give its all, there were so many other elements outside my control which could have been detrimental. I’m very grateful that the day went smoothly. The night prior to the run I slept roughly 4 hours due to nerves and staying in a hostel for the night. Despite that I felt energized throughout the day and my biggest regret is not having picked up the pace sooner at the end of the day. God gave us perfect weather in the 60s, not too humid, no rain, and overcast skies for much of the day.

Without a doubt, the most amazing memory I walked away with — or ran away with — was the beautifully inspiring companionship of so many friends. I guarantee I would’ve run much less were it not for the company that I had for so many of those miles. Though I ran a few miles alone, the majority of the day was filled to the brim with friends stopping by to run for a while with me, distracting and making me laugh with humor, helping monitor my pacing and fueling, encouraging me to drink/eat something, and updating my social media regularly. The support I had was overwhelming and included people that I met for the first time that day as they ran alongside me. I felt (and feel) abundantly cared for and loved. I never dreamed I’d run 80 miles in a day. I’m grateful for the crazy accomplishment. Yet, I’m even more grateful for the way people join together to do crazy things. Because of your pledges, every mile I ran raised $193.50 for clean water! Together with the team of 12 runners, we raised a total of over $100,000 for clean water — changing the lives of more than 2,000 kids! (You can see our final mileage and fundraising totals here: teamworldvision.org/ldm.) Once again I want to say: THANK YOU!

In summary, I’ve come away from this Longest Day Marathon with new awe for the capability of the physical body, the power of the mind, and the tremendously joyous and beneficial impact of friends through the journey!

L’Chaim! (To Life!)

With praise to our Lord and deep gratitude and love to each of you,

Charity
#asCharityforcharity

A Ridiculous Request – L’Chaim: Part 2

**I was prepared to send the following as a message to my Facebook friends, but was promptly blocked from that method when Facebook sensed it as an “abusive” action (apparently sending the same message to multiple people is abusive), so I’m using multiple other public methods to get this word out and see if I can meet a seemingly unattainable goal. Please share this in any way you can — I want to get as many people as possible to join the endeavor. Together, we can do what seems impossible! Thank you!**

Hey there! Let me start off by acknowledging two things:

1. This message is totally out of the blue
2. What I’m doing/about to ask is absolutely ridiculous. I freely admit that and choose to be okay with it. 🙂

With that said… Maybe you and I have only ever spoken once and we then randomly connected on Facebook. Maybe we’ve spoken so often that you’re wondering why I’m sending a Facebook message rather than picking up the phone to talk with you. Maybe, and most probably, our connection falls somewhere between those two. Regardless, you’re a part of the exciting realization I just had…

The Prologue: What I’m about to ask is bold. It’s unconventional. Yet, I have a vision that together we can do something awesome and why would I not give others the opportunity to be a part of that?! (In other words, how lucky you are to receive this message and be a part of this exciting endeavor! ;))

The Short Story: On October 8^th, I’ll be running the Chicago 2017 marathon (26.2 miles) with Team World Vision (a charity organization) to provide clean water for communities in Africa. I’m currently in the midst of doing the running to prepare for it and attempting to raise as much as possible to end the clean water crisis in our lifetime! The realization I just had is this: “I have enough friends on Facebook to easily raise $58,900 by merely asking for $50 from each person, which would provide clean water for over 1,000 people!” You guys, THAT’S the entirely mind-blowingly awesome part of this! Together, we can TOTALLY do this!

The Punchline: $50 = clean water for 1 person for life!

The Moral: As 1 person with access to clean water, will you give $50 to provide the same blessing for 1 other person for life? If not 50, can you give 5 – there’s no amount too small!

The Epilogue: If you’d like to learn more about my story AND give the gift of water, check out my participate page: www.teamworldvision.org/participant/charitylane

About the Author (since somehow in writing this it turned into a story format): I feel extremely vulnerable in making this big of a request. As quickly as the realization of how awesome this could be came to me, all the reasons I shouldn’t ask came to mind. I’m sure you can imagine, but these are only a few of them: “Nobody likes being asked for money! You’ll lose friends! You’ll look foolish! You’ll be setting yourself up for failure! People will wonder why they ever accepted your friend request! Your friends have their own struggles and needs and will feel you’re overlooking their concerns! Just go through your friends list and include a few people!” Well, as you’re receiving this message, obviously the fears were overcome and, while I still have doubts, I’m moving forward with the little FAITH I have, holding on to HOPE, and believing in the LOVE that humanity still has to bless one another. (In that confidence, I’m bumping up my “goal amount” on my participant page. Yikes!)

I hope wherever you’re at in life, you also are moving forward with faith, hope, and love.

L’Chaim! / To life!

-Charity

PS: Some of you have already given. Thank you! If so, please disregard this message. 🙂

PPS: I blame the absolute ridiculousness of this request on all the running – it’s clearly getting to my head.

PPPS: I’m fully anticipating losing some friends/connections over this message…being kicked off Facebook…or both. (later edit: Facebook did block me from using messages.)

L’Chaim!

Hello there!

Having recently completed 30 years of life, I decided to celebrate in a radical way — through seeking to improve the lives of others while also checking off a “bucket list” item of running a marathon! 26.2 miles is coming up quickly on October 8th, 2017. I’ll be running with thousands of others in the 40th anniversary of Chicago’s marathon.

As of June 1st, training has begun. I’m running with Team World Vision to help provide clean water for communities in Africa. Yes; I’m running as Charity for charity. 🙂 Rather than simply checking off a bucket list item, I want to help FILL buckets — fill them with clean water! The need for clean water is very real and I believe that together (runners and supporters alike) we can end the clean water crisis in our lifetime.

Why? Because…

$50 = clean water for 1 person for life!

Will you invest in not just the future but TODAY and provide clean water for 1, 2, 3, or even more people in Africa? No amount is too small. Together, we can help change lives. Details about supporting can be found at my Team World Vision page: Runner: Charity Lane. Thank you in advance for any amount you can give! (***Please note*** I’ve paid my entry to the race so anything given is not toward me at all but rather directly to Team World Vision’s efforts to bring clean water to the world.)

3 types of support that I will need during this journey:

1. Prayer: For physical safety through this process of training
2. Emotional: Words of encouragement — it’s my love language 🙂
3. Financial: As I’m celebrating the completion of 30 years of life, my goal initially was to aim to bring lifelong clean water to 30 people at $50/person = a $1,500 goal. However, I’ve been challenged to “go the second mile” and have decided to double it to a $3,000 goal. Daunting? A bit. Possible? Most definitely!

Incentives (because, as a runner and psychologist, I’m well-aware that motivators are highly beneficial):

• Shout-out (gift amount: ANYTHING). I’d like to give a social media shout-out* to anyone who donates any amount (don’t worry — I’ll first ask you for permission to do so). *A shout-out is defined as a quick public expression of thanks.
• Mile for Charity (gift amount: $50 or more). As I run the 26.2 miles, it’ll be encouraging to know that each mile is being supported by someone (and will provide a nice distraction during the mile as I can intentionally pray for you).
  • Current sponsors per mile: mile1- 2 // mile2- 1 // mile3- 1 // mile4- 3 // mile5- 2 // mile6- 2 // mile7- 1 // mile8- 1 // mile9- 2 // mile10- 2 // mile11- 1 // mile12- 1 // mile13- 3 // mile14- 2 // mile15- 3 // mile16- 2 // mile17- 1 // mile18- 1 // mile19- 1 // mile20- 2 // mile21- 2 // mile22- 2 // mile23- 1 // mile24- 2 // mile25- 2 // mile26- 3
• Trifecta (gift amount: $150). Great things come in multiples of 3! Those who give clean water to 3 people ($150 total) will have their names, a pseudonym, or a saying of their choice written on my leg for the race.
• Anniversary edition (gift amount: any multiple of 30). Give any amount in a multiple of 30 and choose a training week leading up to the race to be dedicated to you. A training week runs from Monday through Sunday for a total of 4 days of running, 2 days of cross-training, and 1 rest day. You will receive a social media shout-out (see definition above) each day of the week dedicated to you.
  • Current sponsors per week remaining: 7 weeks out- 1 // 6 weeks out- 2 // 5 weeks out- 1 // 4 weeks out- 1 // 3 weeks out- 2 // 2 weeks out- 1 // 1 week out- 1
• Good Samaritan (gift amount: largest gift by race day). Donate the largest amount by race day (October 8, 2017) and take advantage of all of the above as well as receive a gift from me.

To life! Or, in the words of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof: “L’Chaim!”

_

World Vision provides more clean water than any nongovernment organization in the world. They work with communities around the world to help solve the puzzle of poverty — providing things like clean water, nutritious food, education, medical care, economic opportunity, and spiritual development.

So, I turned 30… & decided to do something about it! :)

About a week ago, I left my 20s and said hello to my 30s. I’m in a new decade of life and excitedly finding creative ways to celebrate.

So far, there are two fairly big ways I’ve decided to celebrate turning 30 this year and I’d love your partnership in the celebration! Both are about serving and making a positive impact on the world (we’re never too old to think of ways to bring renewal). I’d love for you to consider helping me either:

Serve in the Dominican Republic with a team from my church

…OR…

Run a marathon (26.2 miles) with Team World Vision to bring clean water to communities in Africa

…or both if you feel ambitious. 😉

I can’t do either of these alone, nor would I want to. I’ve found everything’s better when shared with others.

The DR trip is only 19 days away and it’s a little daunting to think I’m required to have the support I need raised within the next 2 weeks – yikes! At the same time, I fully believe it’s not impossible. Leaving June 3^rd and returning June 12^th, I’ll be working with other young adults from my church to help vulnerable children, families, and communities in the DR. We will be serving alongside Kids Alive, which is a ministry providing an incredible range of support to the children, including safe shelter, nutritious meals, medical care, and education through residential homes and care centers. To keep this brief, please contact me if you have other questions about specifics of what we will be doing. I’m very happy to talk about it further. 🙂 Otherwise, if you have no questions and know you’d like to give toward this mission, here are two ways you can go ahead and do so:

• Online: Visit www.wheatonbible.org/GO. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the donation link beside Dominican Republic (Young Adults): June 3-10, 2017.
• Check: Checks may be made out to Wheaton Bible Church and mailed to me (PO Box 990, Wheaton, IL 60187) by May 27^th. Important note: Please do not write my name on the check itself.

Please do let me know if you are planning to support me financially or in prayer so I can thank you!

Find more info on the marathon here: https://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/CharityLane. Incentives and further info forthcoming – not that they’re needed, of course. 😉

Until next time — adieu! ❤

 

Still He Came

Christmas – the day we celebrate the Word of God becoming flesh. Emmanuel – God with us. He entered our world though we were unprepared for and unaware of His coming. Now, at Christmastime, there are preparations made for days, weeks, and sometimes months in advance as we anticipate the celebration. For some, the preparations are focused externally – on the decorations, the presents, the family gathering and traditions. For others, the preparations may be focused internally – on the state of the heart and spirit as we reflect on the true Joy of Christmas. There’s something about this time of year that inspires this preparedness and reflection on making room for Him in heart and life in a new and deeper way. Most years I’ve been able to feel ready for this time. Something was different this year as I came to Christmas Eve with a sense of disarray and upheaval. A combination of external and internal factors (some yet beyond my awareness) converge and leave me feeling unprepared for Christmas – for Him. Inwardly rebuking myself, I’m caught suddenly by His gentle reminder: “I didn’t wait for the world to be prepared when I came as Emmanuel. And still today, I don’t hesitate to enter into your unprepared state. Love has a tendency of coming when least expected. And this is my heart’s joy at Christmas: Not that you had made yourself ready for my arrival but that I came to you where and how you were. I am God who is with you – not simply as an occasional companion but as an intimate Lover. I AM EMMANUEL!” His comforting presence and reminder led to the following expression of my gratitude that, though I was unprepared, still He came.

 

24 December 2016

 

The world, a darkened place of sinful man

Its hope, the fire’s ember, dying fast

They thought they understood the Savior’s plan

In coming He would rule as king at last

 

The world, a cold unwelcoming abode

So unprepared for Light to pierce the dark

For Truth to burrow deep where lies were sowed

Unready, unaware, so deathly stark

 

My heart, so also, ill-prepared this day

Disordered loves, I’ve made a mess my state

With shame I almost turn my face away

But Love in mercy doesn’t hesitate

 

As once to darkened earth He came to dwell

Remains He still today: Emmanuel