"The Greatest Love of All"

 The death of Whitney Houston has shocked and saddened many in America, myself included. I'm old enough to remember her coming onto the music scene and while her pop songs weren't the particular style of music that I am personally a fan of, I truly thought she was one of the most beautiful and talented singers I had ever seen or heard. Time will tell us how she died, tabloids will tell us how she lived but history will prove how great of an artist she was. No one will ever sing the Star Spangled Banner better. Ever.

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well
And let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty
They possess inside
Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier
Let the children's laughter
Remind us how we used to be
(Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All")

So it's been a crazy week or so in our training for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. Crazy in that we haven't really trained much together. I miss my group.
  My week-long up-and-down adventure actually began on February 4 at The Knoxville Zoo where we helped Coach Missy kick off the Covenant Kids Run. One of the main responsibilities of being a part of the Biggest Winner team is that we are to be "Ambassadors of health & fitness" to the community where we live. To be honest, I kind of chuckle to myself when I say or type this...not that I don't believe in the idea, I just can't really imagine that I would be an Ambassador of Health  to anyone. Let's face it,  you don't look at me and think 'Gosh, she's so healthy' ..it's probably more of 'Gosh, she has a healthy appetite'.

 So there we were at the Zoo to help the kids begin a 2 month journey of eating right/exercising (The kids will log their activities over the next few months to equal 25 miles and on March 31, they will run their last mile and end, like we will on April 1,  on Neyland Stadium)

 I have to admit that this was probably the most fun I've had in a long time. First-we were at The Knoxville Zoo, one of my favorite places in Knoxville. Second, we were all together which was fun and third, we were cheering on these adorable kids who were running as hard as they could up a big hill towards the finish line. We all nearly lost our voices cheering them on and burned a lot of calories moving our arms clapping. I really don't know who had more fun--the kids..the parents or my team. 

 

Since I had to work that Saturday evening, I knew I'd have to eventually "Pay the Piper" and walk 7.5 miles (man, I can't believe I'm walking 7.5 miles). Amanda and I decided to spend part of our Super Bowl Sunday walking the first part of the half-marathon. I am the type of person who needs to know what I'm going to face before I face it so this was a nice way to ease into the half-marathon. 

We were fortunate to have Julie..my co-worker, friend and all around great lady, come along with us. Julie has "Wogged" (Half walk/half jog) the 1/2 marathon before. She offered a lot of great insight into race day and also plenty of laughs and encouragement to keep going.

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me

Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity

(Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time"

 We met up at the Sunsphere and headed out..just 3 girls,  2 GPS', 2 Fitbits, 3 pedometers, a map, written directions, cell phones and thankfully, water bottles.

 Our course took us from the Sunsphere..up Clinch..left onto a street (Can't remember which one)...through campus, down by Thompson-Boling Arena, onto Neyland Dr.....around Neyland and finally to Kingston Pike.

  This was, by far, one of my favorite walks during our training. First, it was super nice outside...flowers were blooming all over town.

 Second, we were in an area that I am normally either avoiding because of traffic or rushing through to get someone else (minding the speed limit, of course) and I really don't take the time to look around and see how beautiful it is.

 We finally turned down Cherokee Boulevard, which Jules has told me is one of the best parts of the half-marathon route.

 During this and many other walks I have found that I seem to attract a number of dogs that come out and "cheer me on". Most would say they're only barking at me because I irritate them but I choose to believe they're supporters and have created a "Dog Log" in their honor.

I have lived in Knoxville for 10 years and love it here and yet,  I am constantly amazed about how little I actually know about the city. Being on the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Biggest Winner Team  has introduced me to areas I would have never found on my own. I have discovered amazing greenways through our training with the Knoxville Track Club. That Sunday was my day to discover Cherokee Boulevard.

 First...it's long. Really long. I honestly thought we'd never get to the end of the street. Second, it's beautiful. Really beautiful. It's nice to see houses that are immaculately kept. There are also great plaques to read along the trail with trees that are planted in honor/memory of someone. This is the one that got us all

Another great thing about this area: Amanda had relatives that live on the road and we were fortunate enough to stop for a much needed "pit stop"  We took this photo around mile 5.

As we walked the trail, Jules kept telling us about race day. I have to admit, it sounded exciting. "People line the streets here," she'd say. "They play music and it's a big party". I look forward to seeing this for myself.

 Jules also talked about one of the downsides...well, actually an upside to the half-marathon: the dreaded Noelton Hill (Cue scary music). I have to admit, I'd heard of the street but had never thought much about it until this moment. She and Amanda talked it up and I have to admit I was nervous.

So here we were at Noelton and about to start heading up this road. 6 months ago, I faced a similar hill out at the lake.

The pictures doesn't do it justice really. It was STRAIGHT UP. I had to stop so many times, I thought I'd just sit down and cry. That Super Bowl Sunday....we started climbing and except for one break to "stretch" we got to the top with no problems. Sure, we were out of breath....but isn't that point?

At the end of Noelton, we all got our gadgets out and calculated it all up and realized we had gone over 9 miles. We all stood there with a lot of "are you sure?" looks on our faces.  Amanda has blogged about her theories of why we went over our mileage, Jules has her theory...I personally don't really want to know or care to because I had a blast with those girls and would have probably kept walking and enjoying the day.

 By the way..Julie has a great blog she does as well..check it out here.

I didn't know my own strength
And I crashed down and I tumbled, but I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn't know my own strength

Survived my darkest hour, my faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up, hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn't know my own strength
(Whitney Houston's "I didn't know my own strength")

I wish I could have kept this emotional high a bit longer. It's been a stressful week for me and I haven't done as much exercising/eating right as I should. My team has been really supportive of me and has kept encouraging me.  One put it best...that really all of this is like a marathon...it's not a sprint. We're making changes over time. It's nice to have encouragement. All of us on the team have different stories that make us unique. We each l bring in different ideas, perspectives and outlooks on this journey we're taking together. We've got a great group of people.

 So, thanks to their encouragement, I'm setting out and resolving once again to do better this week.  I may stumble but I will pick myself up, dust myself off and try again.

I´m every woman
It´s all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally

(Whitney Houston's "I'm every woman")

  But there are fun stories to share. Like the fact that I'm going to do the YMCA's 2-hour Zumbathon on February 19 with a co-worker.   My co-worker is a Jazzerciser who goes to classes several times a week. I like Zumba, which is a "cousin" of the exercise. She's never Zumba'd and I've never Jazzercised. I can pretty much tell who will fare  better on the 19th but I know we'll both have the same amount of fun!

 This past Saturday, most of my teammates were taking part in the Knoxville Track Club's Strawberry Plains half-marathon and 10k. Since I had to work Saturday evening, I chose to walk with Amanda and Beth who works at Covenant. This was, by far, the coldest mornings we've had to walk in. We chose to go back to my favorite greenways in Knoxville, the one near Walker Springs.

   Since we walked more than 9 miles last Sunday, we were advised to just walk between 7.5 to 8  this time around. We walked from the West Hills YMCA all the way to Lowe's/Wynnsong Theater on N. Peters and then turned and walked back to Wal-Mart and then around an apartment complex and then back to Wynnsong and then around the movie theatre. In all, we walked just over 7.5 miles and it was really cold (we walked towards the wind not away from it) all three of us were sniffing, and shivering  still, we warmed up pretty quickly (silly me for wearing that coat). It was nice to get to know Beth  and to see this trail that I promise to come back to..in the spring.

The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

(Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All")

  So one of the best parts of being on this Biggest Winner team is that I am receiving so much encouragement from friends. It's also so exciting to know that the team is also helping inspire others. I can't tell you how many folks have emailed me, texted me, posted on my FB wall or called to tell me that they are going walking or running, they've joined a gym or taken an exercise class. I read them with great pride in them..and us.

can't speak on the team's behalf but my whole mission in doing this is to inspire others to do something..anything...to believe in themselves and work towards living a healthier life.
I want others to see me and realize that I can do it..so can they.  Being this active has flipped a switch on in my head about the importance of exercising. It's really something that we all can (and should) do. I've found (and so have my friends/co-workers) that I am really grumpy if I don't get out and move. The weather outside should not affect your mood on the inside. Layer up and get outside and get moving.

(Side note: The Knoxville Track Club will kick off a new Knox Walks program for area walkers to gather (just as our running friends to) the kick off is March 3 at Calhouns and folks can train for an event in May. It sounds super fun and I encourage you to read more by clicking here).

Thank you for your kind words, your encouragement and your love and support.