Two Years

Two years ago I was just moving past hockey tape and gardening gloves. Now looking back I thought that I should give an overview of how far I have come.

2012

July-August 2012:  Begin to think about racing

September 2012:  Join Jessamine County Public Library Driveway to 5K running group trying to train with an everyday (slow) wheelchair

October 2012:  God gives me a racing wheelchair and rollerbar for an affordable price (via Greg Insco!!)

November 2012:  Learn how to steer the Tuesday before my first race and complete my first 5K (Jessamine County Parks and Rec. Turkey Strut)

December 2012:  Follow advice from Tatyana McFadden and purchased a pair of harness racing gloves; Find article on proper push technique; Complete 5K in Somerset, KY (where hills are really mountains); Race in Kannapolis, NC where my grandparents get to cheer me on

2013

 January-February 2013:  Continue to train with my dad/coach 

March 2013:  Race at the RJ Corman railrunner 5K

April 2013:  Unexpectedly travel to Greenwood, IN to race in a walk/run for orphans to support the Boaz Project; find out just how many hills Kentucky has (as compared to flat, flat, flat Indiana) and how bad I am at pacing myself without hills to climb and then fly down!

May 2013:  Learn to pace myself; compete in RJ Corman run for the Chrysallis House along with my dad who decided he needed to be in better shape in order to keep up with me

June 2013:  Run in the Hearts of Fire 5K

July 2013:  Winning the second fastest time for the women's pushchair, I completed the Bluegrass 10K in Lexington KY

August-October 2013: Start high school so racing is on hold for a while

November 2013:  Run in the Jessamine County Parks and Rec. Turkey Strut 5K, marking my one year anniversary

2014

April 2014: Meet Coach Adam Bleakney and get tips for seating.  He said you want to become "one with the chair," which means no wiggle room in your seating. 

May 2014:  Run in the RJ Corman run for the Chrysallis House along with Dad

June 2014:  Two weeks out from the Bluegrass 10,000, I ran United Way 5k on the Runway.( I got 20:27 best time so far!) The next weekend I ran the Wilmore 5K. I beat the power chairs there!

July 2014:  I BEAT THE RECORD IN THE BLUEGRASS 10,000!!!  I touched a track for the first time at track camp at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

August-October 2014:  We gained access to our local high school track. I trained on the track and learned how hard it is to stay in one lane in a racing wheelchair.

November 2014: I attended the Gateway to Gold event in Charlotte NC. I ran in the Jessamine County Parks and Rec. Turkey Strut getting my best time for that course. Iannah and Dad ran in this race.

Obviously I have done a lot over the past two years.  Thank you to everyone who has helped me in any way.  I am getting excited to see what I will do in this next year.  My goals are to get more track experience and to complete a half marathon in the spring.  We are looking for regional Paralympic events as close to Kentucky as we can find.  For those of you who have them, pray for me when you where your Aerelle's Wheels of Fire T-shirt.  I will keep you updated on what the Lord is doing through my wheelchair racing journey.

Aerelle

(Aspiring Wheelchair Racer)