Lysa invited me to start running with her a couple years ago. I tried it…once…when we were away on a writing/staff retreat. I nearly died! That girl can run for miles and miles and miles. Now you need to know – we were in the mountains where there is not enough oxygen to breath when you are just walking let alone running. And there are lots of hills. I’ll tell ya she just about killed me!!! I was gasping for air while she carried on a full-blown conversation. I had to stop running to answer to her questions. I never ran with her again, although she did invite (bug) me again and again. Finally, she gave up. However, a few short months later she started inviting (bugging) me about going with her to adult gymnastics class. Now why would I do that? She was talking about bars and beams, pull ups and push ups. It sounded very painful and dangerous. Although I was quite impressed with her Olympic-sized commitment and her new found muscles, I was not a bit interested in having some of my own – not with all that work. “There’s no way!” I told her. Fast forward two years. My husband decides that although he has 
arthritis he is going to run a half-marathon. He asks me to run with him in Knoxville, TN. I remind him of the oxygen and hills situation and basically say – no way, no can do. He trains for months and runs 13 miles straight, up and down the hills of Knoxville. He comes home and tells me he is praying that I will start running with him – like I used to do when we first got married. Oh great! Now I’m feeling all out of shape and like a wife who’s husband is looking for some recreational romance and I’m just a slug. Last month JJ decided to run a full marathon this December on Kiawah Island, SC. He tells me there are no hills and the average temp is 70 degrees. He hints at me training to do the half-marathon. Then little Miss Olympics starts bugging me about doing adult gymnastics again. And in the same week my very dear friend Melissa tells me she is running a half-marathon, in Kiawah, in December. (Yes, the same race JJ is running in!) So now I have three people who I love to spend time with asking me to stretch my schedule, my faith and my muscles in ways I never have before!! And something crazy in me wants to. Somehow I feel God calling me to do that which I cannot do! Last Monday I decided to go with Lysa to gymnastics. And I talked my very sweet friend Holly into going with me! I told her I’d do anything for her if she’d go look like a fool by my side. Oh my gosh! It hurt so bad I could barely move the next day but oddly I felt great afterwards – well in my mind anyway. 
I had tons of energy and slept better that week than I had in months. I’ve been going now for over a week – and I CAN do it! And it’s really making me feel better. I have more energy, less aches in my back, shoulders and neck and my chronic headaches are gone! Here is a photo of us this morning at the gym. That white blob in my mouth is bubble gum – it helps me balance. Here is a lovely shot that truly reflects the pain I am enduring – for the loves of my life! 
But with the pain I got a little gain! This is just too much fun to keep to ourselves, so we’ve decided to start a new division called P31 You Go Girl Gymnastics. For more fun photos, click here to go to Lysa’s blog . Okay, so guess what else? Last night JJ signed me up for the half marathon in Kiawah – without force! I committed to train and run with Melissa and JJ (he’s got a friend running the whole marathon with him). We ran our first two miles this week and it was just like when we first got married – just like he thought it would be. This weekend our family is going to the mountains for some tubing down the river! Now that is my kind of recreation. Have a fun weekend! I’m praying for all of you to be, do and become all that you never thought you could be!
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By the way, I look forward to reading about your progress and training. Hmmm….accountablity to your many readers? 🙂
Keep us posted and don’t quit like I have! You can do this Renee!! Will be praying for you.
Love,
Lelia
I told Lysa when I saw these pics on her blog that this should be the opening act for 2009 She Speaks!! 😉
Okay, I must admit, reading about the half marathon, training, adult gymnastics, I can feel the inner athlete in me start to awaken. Poor thing she has been hibernating for years now and everytime she begs to be let out of her cave I stuff her mouth with ice cream. Ben & Jerry's Cake Batter. The whole pint. I need to make some serious changes. Thanks for the motivation. I really should give this to God because He knows how many times I've been motivated only to give up. Prayer would be good her. 🙂
Thanks Renee!!
Anyone who can still do a split, doesn’t have to prove she can run a marathon! I’d tell J.J. when he can do a split, then you’ll run!
You rock–totally!!
Hugs!
I wish I had an exercise friend to spur me on. I type this half in fear that God may provide!! I like the sofa…and ice cream…but I hate being a slug.
Hope you enjoy your program and being like a newlywed again!
Renee, I am SOOoooo proud of you!! You go girl!! Kiawah is a great place for your first half marathon. Trust me!! We go every other year to run. This is our year off–I am so sorry that I won’t be there to cheer you on!! Woohoo!! And…you’re close to Charleston with shopping and eating!! There’s a good restuarant on the island if you don’t want to go all the way to Chas. Let me know, and I’ll get you some info. The most important things to me in running is to have FUN, FELLOWSHIP, and FOOD!!
Love ya,
Susan
Girl, you can jump. Ouch! I can’t even do with sitting down. Goodness, gracious. Okay, i am convicted to exercise. Perhaps, I can wake up on time for devotional.
Oops, in reading over what I just posted I saw that I wrote “the weight might now come off” when it should read “might NOT come off.” Just wanted to fix that…:)
Kudos to you in your training!
Tracy
Renee–
Thanks for sharing this. I know God has been nudging be back towards exercising again, and I think this may have tipped me over the edge to finally get started. You probably don’t remember this, but when you came to speak at our retreat in Blacksburg year before last, I mentioned my weight struggles in a devotional I gave and you commented afterwards that many women need to hear that message and that I should be prepared that even though I wanted to lose weight, God might now allow me to take it off.
That stuck with me and since then every time I’ve tried to get back to exercising I’ve had some kind of health crisis…a herniated disc, thyroid surgery, and most recently an MS diagnosis.
I’m realizing now more than ever that I can’t let those things hinder me and my desire to glorify God in all things, including my health and appearance! Even if the weight never comes off (and I’m praying it will) exercising can only serve to make me healthier and stronger!
Thanks and God bless…
Tracy Altizer
That is great . I need to get back in to working out. That looks like a blast.
You’ve received an AWARD! Check out my blog today at see it. 🙂
Renee,
My husband has asked me a couple of times to do Kiawah with him. I did a 1/2 way back when (at 17!). I told him you, JJ and Melissa were doing it and he said, “Let’s do it!”. I guess I better pray about it and get moving a little faster than I am with my dog now!
Lynn
RENEE!!!!!!!!!!!! OMGsh!!!! Your spread eagle looks amazing!! You got skills girlfriend! Jeff and I looked at your blog and we both are majorly impressed! We are so gonna rock doing 13.1 in December!
I’d love to run with you this Saturday. It’s HG’s birthday so I have to do breakfast with her first, but then I’d love to run. Call me.
Love you girlie!
Melissa
I am impressed with those pictures. We lived in one of the neighborhoods by downtown for a while and watched all the runners running in Knoxville–does that count 🙂 you’ll have a blast and never regret it!
I enjoyed Lysa’s photos and description on her blog and now I’ve enjoyed your spin on this. You are a hoot. Hope you are having fun this weekend, relaxing and not running. haha
Love,
Paula
You go girl!!! After reading Lysa’s post, I looked into adult gymnastics…but there are none where I live. ARGH! But I can walk…I need to walk!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
I loved everybit of this post! You look so cute out there giving it your all and hanging out with friends. Obviously God has plans for this venture. ;D
Renee,
It looks like y’all had a blast at the gymnastic class. That split is impressive!! My body would never be that flexible!!
Excersizing is such a bore to me and I know that I would feel better if I set my mind to it. You are blessed to have friends along for the journey-especially your hubby! Have a great weekend tubing with your boys!!