11 February 2008
Thoughts on a very cold Monday
Posted by Deborah Pieri under: Deborah Pieri .
Last week was a very long week for me. My teaching partner, Kelly and I put on a rainforest play with our students. We’ve had so many 3rd graders out with the flu. We had to make last minute substitutions hours before the play because one of our narrators threw up on the stage during a last rehearsal and another narrator was too sick to come to school! Yikes! All went well and they did an awesome job!
When you work with children you are bound to eventually pick up a lot of bugs. So I woke up Sunday morning with the headache, sore throat, and cough. I’ve felt it coming on since last Thursday before the rungazelle speed work in EGR, but me being me, I just keep pushing until I was forced to relax and take it easy which is just what I did yesterday and today. We went to church yesterday and then I hit the couch and shivered and rested most of the day. Thankfully we had a snow day today. . . not sure I could have made it to school. So anyway, the rest gives me the opportunity to catch up on the blog.
I was reading Steve’s blog about rungazelle cancelling the run Sunday due to the weather. Knowing what was coming yesterday, Tim and I ventured out Saturday for 11 miles around the city. The wind was brutal even then, but I had a good run. . . . felt good despite feeling like I might be ”coming down with something”. Sometimes people think we are crazy to run so much. What’s the point they say. You’re not really going anywhere. That’s where they’re wrong. The sheer discipline it takes to stick to a running program forges an inner strength and self-confidence that can’t be taken from you.
Steve also raised the question of spirituality and running. I almost always pray when I run. I find that when I get in that zone, prayer comes naturally. There’s something about the rhythm of my breathing and the sound of my footfalls that is very soothing and relaxing. I always pray for each of my six kids, lifting them up to God, asking for His protection and grace in their lives. I’m pretty good about remembering when other people ask for prayers, so usually I have quite a list of prayers flying off toward Heaven.
Saturday as we were running I was thinking about and praying for my Aunt Carol who passed away Friday night. Tim and I took my mother to be with her sister in her final moments Friday. I have been present at several births besides my own kids. There is an incredible energy that fills the room at the time that little soul enters the world. I have been present at a few deaths as well. There is again this amazing energy in the room, compounded by profound grief and loss as a soul leaves this world. It was a great honor to be present as my aunt transitioned from this life to another. She had so bravely battled the cancer. My thoughts as she breathed her last were thank God she doesn’t have to suffer any more, and that she ran a good race and finally had crossed the finish line. She raised a wonderful family and helped a lot of refugees from all over the world find a new life here. She was an incredible woman and I am grateful to have been touched by her life.
Have a good week. Run with a warm heart despite the cold!
Deb
7 Comments so far...
Terry Says:
11 February 2008 at 8:07 pm.
Sorry to hear about your Aunt. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Terry
Shelly Says:
12 February 2008 at 8:32 am.
Deb–I’m so sorry to hear about your aunt. I’m sure you made her passing easier for her by just being near her–you present a quiet strength that is very uplifting. Keep up the great work–and I hope you are feeling much better now. –shelly
Bob Says:
13 February 2008 at 7:54 am.
I also pray when running. Sometimes this is a simple thanks to God for giving me the ability to accomplish that long run or maybe just a quick praise for the moment and place in life where your just so aware of God’s presence. Hope you feel better soon.
Kristine Howard Says:
13 February 2008 at 10:48 pm.
Hi Deb- I’m not sure you would remember me but I think I met you through the Y- I used to certify instructors.
Anyways, have been reading your blog entries and I especially liked today’s- it reminds me of a quote I just read (coincidentally at my Y!): “Obsession is the word used by the unmotivated to describe the dedicated.” I’m not quite sure I’m there yet– I just started running in December to train for my very first go at the Riverbank. But I may be starting to get an inkling of what all you “crazy runners” see in this sport! 
Well, just wanted to say hello and thanks for the inspiration!
Deb Says:
14 February 2008 at 10:51 am.
Kristine,
Of course I remember you! You were so patient with all of us as we struggled to get that “32 count” down! I really enjoyed that training, tough as it was for me. I’ve been working at the Y ever since! I am so excited for you. . . . how exciting to be running your first Riverbank. You will love the excitement and energy of race day. Keep up the good work with your training and I love the quote! I hope to run into you on the road or on race day!
Nicholas Says:
15 February 2008 at 7:36 pm.
Mom, you’re such a friggin’ rock star. i’ve been meaning to catch up on reading these blogs for a while now. on my paltry little runs of a mile or two or three, you inspire me to push a little more. i’m glad you have this blog because you’re an inspiring person and folks who read what you share must get a boost from it. just thinking of your strength makes me stronger. whenever i feel like complaining, i can think of you and my complaints wash away like like runners’ footprints in a blizzard… you know you’ve gone on plenty of runs in blizzards! keep up the good work, hard training and amazing inspirational attitude!
Timothy Says:
15 February 2008 at 9:36 pm.
Valentine’s Day,
somewhere around 6:30 pm, a group of runners are running down the road, overlooking Reed’s Lake. We are late, as usual, this time I can not blame my dear wife, it was partially my fault. Yet she had taught powerflex at the Y, just an hour earlier. I wanted to go but the system of things felt differently. It would have left me vanquished. We park the car and takeoff after them, or at least in the same direction. By the time we get to the corner, they were beyond it, and so on till we come to the hill. The coaches say it is a .25 mile loop. There is a certain groove, I suppose that you have to get into. Run up, breath hard, run back down. I never really did hill repeats before. The snow started with big flakes in our faces. Some of the runners would race up so fast, and some of us would just do what we could.
In former times, I would become short with Deb’s need to go the distance. Now I try to just keep going, without too much noise. It was cool running over the edge of the lake on the way back to the library.
You guys should really try it. I’m not really into all this running thing, but It was pretty, and you really did feel alive.
Bob, sorry to here the news. Our thoughts do remain with you.
Some of you know Samuel, our son, has been in boot camp with the Marines in SanDiego. Well, he came down with pnuemonia, and will probably be dropped from the platoon, and put in a new one, a week behind. One step at a time son, that’s all we can do. He seemed to understand, it is what it is.