OFF WE GO!

WOW!!

I've learned that finishing a [half or full] marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible.

- John Hanc, running writer

WOW!
I'm not sure I could have wished for a more perfect day yesterday. Standing there with 7,000+ runners with that bright, clear early morning sun pouring over all of us. For a few minutes we were all all together - bouncing up and down to keep warm, laughing nervously, cheering randomly, smiling constantly - focused, excited, blessed - together.

Then we were running - laughing - waving at the cameras - listening to the crowds cheer us on. Feeling amazing. Only 30 seconds in. Only two minutes in. Four miles down, nine to go. Watching the brilliantly colored crowd spread ahead of us (and behind) in an endless, rhythmic  stream. And on and on we went.

So many runners running for others - those who couldn't run, those who were no longer with us, those too sick or too tiny - in memory of, in honor of, in place of. So many running beyond themselves. It is a gift from God that we can run. It is a gift to God when we run for a greater cause.

For a couple of hours we ran, together and "alone." And then suddenly I was heading down 20th street - the last leg - playing a ridiculous alphabet game with Felicia to keep my mind occupied. Then that last block of 20th before the turn - I couldn't even think of a word for the letter "U" let alone what order the letters came in. I just got quiet and willed my legs to run faster, to feel my lungs hurt, to know the end was just around the corner. Then I saw Susie Youngson, smiling, yelling, laughing and then it was over and I think my smile was bigger than my face. An amazing race. A perfect day.

I'm so proud you guys out there yesterday and I hope our runners who couldn't be with us due to sickness are all feeling much better.

Thank you Sole Saints! Can't wait until next year... anyone up for the full?

peace and love,
Hilary

We are blessed

What a lovely run was had this past Saturday :)
We had runners run distances from 5-10 miles and it was perfect weather. 

So next week is our longest run before we head to Mercedes. Be good to yourself this week - hydrate, rest, eat, get excited because it's going to be fun. I may even have to do a celebration dance at the end :) We'll start out from Felcia's house at 215 Clermont Dr, 35209. Very close to AllSaints and even closer to Trinity Presbyterian. 

While you're snowed in... take a minute to find a few non-perishable goods you can bring to donate on the 15th - there are lots of people in our community who could use a blessing or two right now and blessings come in all shapes and sizes, including cans of food. Now, go put them in your car before Saturday morning - go ahead. I'll wait. Go do it.

You, yes, I'm talking to YOU, are always welcome to run with us. Regardless of how far you'd like to run or how fast/slow you'd like to go. Just show up and we'll figure it out :)


Remember to order your shirts this week - bring your money this weekend or you can mail a check to Hilary Moreno, 1836 Old Creek Trail, Birmingham, AL 35216. I'll order the shirts on January 18th or 19th.

Some thoughts to make you think:

Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.  ~Charles Schulz, Peanuts

I run because I can. When I get tired, I remember those who can't run, what they'd give to have this simple gift I take for granted, and I run harder for them. I know they would do the same for me. 

We are all so blessed -

peace be with you -

Hilary

together with options

Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.

Richard O'Brien, runner

Hey runners!
Happy Happy Wednesday :) So this weekend is chock-full of options for running so here there are:

OPTION 1: The Red Nose Run - 10 miles on Saturday. Raises money for the Ronald MacDonald House and I think the registration is something like $40.

OPTION 2: An easy 9 miles from Brownell at 6:30 on Saturday

OPTION 3: If you'd like to run part of the Mercedes route there will be a large group heading out for 7 miles (or 13 for the full marathoners) from Boutwell Auditorium at 6:30am on Sunday.
_________________________________________________


Update on Sole Saints shirts: now taking official orders for our Sole Saints shirt. Long, sleeve, bright blue, tech shirt with our logo on the front. Cost is $22 but if you'd like to add on a few dollars we will donate any profit to the church. Small donations go a long way.

Email your shirt order to hilarymoreno@gmail.com. I'll collect money on our long run days. Final day to order will be Saturday, January 15th. If you prefer to send your payment let me know in your email order.

peace be with you -
Hilary

WooooooWhooooooooo! 2011 here I come!!

I hope all of you had a most amazing Christmas! Let's begin 2011 on the right foot (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...) with the Resolution Run on January 1st, 2001. Instead of meeting at 6:30 a.m.... let's run with the Birmingham Track Club at 9:30am at 5 Points South. Distance begins at 2 miles and goes up from there. You may need to decide that morning how far you want to (can..) run after all the New Year celebrating. Hey! You could even wear your running stuff to you New Year's Eve party and just go straight from the party to the run!!

Can't wait to see you guys again!
peace be with you -
Hilary

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” -Pre


What a great run we had early Saturday morning - what a huge group - including two dogs. That's got to be a good sign. It was 40 degrees. I had on short sleeves. Perfectly lovely weather. Today it's snowing tiny, beautiful snowflakes. Snow makes me feel like a kid. Running makes me feel like a kid. Perfect combination. 


Saturday evening I went to a Christmas party hosted by runners for runners. I realized as I introduced my husband to these friends of mine what an amazing year this has been. Here was a room full of people I have run with several times a month, month in and month out, for over a year. Here was a group of friends, new friends, solid friends who I never would have known without the blessing of running. I don't think I've made that many new friends in a year since I was 5.


So my friends, I know it's cold but don't give up. Even if you take a break or are out sick for a week, don't give up. You are so close. Our Sole Saints ran what I thought was an 8-mile loop, turned out to be closer to 8.5 or even 8.8 for some :) That's a long way. For some, it was their LRE - their Longest Run Ever. That's huge. Don't give up. Remember our cheesey tagline: Together we CAN do anything. 

Next Sunday we meet at the back of Dawson church for a fun tour of the neighborhoods. It's our last run before the Christmas so let's get merry - jingle bells are welcome. Santa hats are welcome. All are welcome.


peace be with you my friends -
Hilary

The Joys of Vulcan and Chocolate Milk

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.
- Les Brown

Saturday morning was GORGEOUS! Especially standing beneath Vulcan looking out over Birmingham knowing it was all down hill from there. We had a great run - the temperature was perfect, the company - divine.

If you'd heard scary stories about the Children's Hospital to Vulcan run make sure to ask Erica, Addy or Jim to give you the lowdown... I promise we'll do that run again soon :)

Many thanks to Felcia for the water stop!

Next week we run 8 from Brownell and it promises to be rather chilly so dress well. But remember, if you're not a little cold when we start running, you'll be too hot pretty soon. With our runs getting longer please remember to eat something when you get up - ike a banana with peanut butter or half a PBJ or a cereal bar of some sort (my favorite are the Luna bars - ¢99 at Publix and lots of flavors) or a bagel. I always have a spot of coffee as well and a gatorade.

For you chocolate fans, chocolate milk is a super post run drink. Here's the scoop:The drink you loved as a kid has the ideal amount of carbohydrates and protein that tired muscles need for recovery, says Joel Stager, Ph.D., director of the department of kinesiology at Indiana University. According to a study Stager led, drinking chocolate milk postexercise speeds up recovery and increases the time it takes to reach exhaustion during a subsequent exercise session better than sports drinks. And a 2007 British study found that regular milk is better than water or a sports drink at restoring fluid levels following a bout of exercise in the heat. Plus, milk contains bone-strengthening vitamin D and calcium.

For those who are anti-chocolate:

Cherry Juice
If George Washington was more of an athlete, he never would have felled his dad's cherry tree. A study done in 2008 by British researchers found that runners who drank 16 ounces of tart cherry juice in the days before, the day of, and two days after a marathon decreased inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle damage. "Cherry juice is very useful for postexercise recovery," says Declan Connolly, Ph.D., professor of physical education and exercise science at the University of Vermont. Cherries are higher in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than many other types of fruit. Try drinking a cup of tart cherry juice after exercise—particularly during heavy training. But don't guzzle it like it's tap water: One cup has about 30 grams of natural sugar and 130 calories.
Sipping Points: If cherry juice is too tart for you, try a sweeter blend with cherries and other 100 percent fruit juices.


Vegetable Juice
Chock-full of a variety of nutrients in a concentrated package, 100 percent vegetable juice is a tasty way to get a serving or two of veggies. Those made mostly with tomatoes have lots of lycopene, an antioxidant that a British Journal of Nutrition study found protects muscles from oxidative stress caused by exercise. Many brands have three to five times the amount of sodium and 13 to 17 times the amount of potassium in sports drinks, "which makes vegetable juice an ideal part of a postrun snack or meal that includes carbs and protein," says Kimball.
Sipping Points: Sodium levels can range from 140 to 620 milligrams in regular (non—low sodium) brands. Choose higher levels if you crave salt postrun.

(all drink info above is from an article from RunnersWorld online called Natural Solution: Mother Nature's healthy drinks recharge muscles and aid performance.)

Here's to strong bodies, full hearts and open minds,
peace -
Hilary