Bluegrass 10,000

On the Fourth, I participated in the Bluegrass 10,000 in downtown Lexington.  This was my third year competing in this 10K.  Last year I beat the woman's pushchair division time and I am happy to announce that I have bettered my time again this year.  I think that the faster time came from dad yelling at me when the finish line was in view that I could beat my time.  I had no idea that I could go that fast!  Here is a link to the Lexington Herald-Leader:  Bluegrass 10,000

This video was taken by my grandfather of the start of the Bluegrass 10K.  I am on the far right in the blue.

Speaking of dad, I want to tell you that I am very proud of him.  He has made the decision to get his para-sport track and field coaching training.  I think that he will do a wonderful job.  He is really good at explaining what he is looking for and he thinks outside the box.  These are two great tools that will help him in training other adaptive athletes as well.  He has done the classroom work to receive his Level I coaching in Track and Field; pray for him as he studies around his busy schedule in order to pass the online test within the next 80 days.  


The Lord told me that He was going to give me a platform from which to speak and He has.  Just on the fourth there were three different opportunities that he gave me to encourage somebody to get into wheelchair racing.  I have had time after time to speak to someone whom I would never have even seen if I had not been doing wheelchair racing.  Before I got started, I had no idea about the running community.  I have even gotten to speak at Red Oak Elementary.  There has not been a repentance seen or a life changing conversion, but there have been many times where I got to be the light.  I have been called to a very cool ministry.  Over this last week, I had another athlete ask me if I was a Christian.  When I answered that I was, she nodded.  She, too, is a believer, and she said she could see Jesus in me in my attitude and actions.  I liked that!

Cedartown

     I had the great honor this last week to compete in the same race with several world-record-setting wheelchair racers.  This amazing opportunity was in Cedartown, Georgia at the Cedartown training camp and 5K.  I was feeling very slow this week being around so many veterans who have so much more experience than I.  At the 5K, Tatyana McFadden set a new world record of 11:11:57!  (I had the time of 20:47--definitely feeling s l o w !)

     To have so many elite athletes in one place was a bit overwhelming for me.  Everyone was quick to listen to my questions and offer help and advice where needed.  They also offered just plain friendship.

Hannah, me, and the Nigerian flag!

 

I roomed with Hannah Babalola from Nigeria, who holds the record as the second fastest woman in the 200 meter.  It was great to share our stories and our faith with each other.  I saw some old acquaintances from track camp last year in University of Illinois who were as glad to see me as I was to see them.  

     I even got to act a bit like a groupie when I finally met Tatyana McFadden.  She was the first wheelchair racer whose name I knew as I began getting interested in this sport.  I found it funny that Ray Martin, who is the world's fastest quad didn't intimidate me, but for some reason Tatyana did!  I had her sign my Cedartown T-shirt; I may have it framed!!!  (By the way, she didn't intimidate Thaddeus in the least, who tried out all of his four-year-old jokes on her and insisted on giving her a high five every time he saw her.)  She is definitely a great role model because she is so humble about all of her achievements and rarely wants to talk about herself.  

     As Hannah would say, the people of Cedartown were "so lovely!"  It was fun to find a knowledgeable group of people who were so encouraging.  The committee, the sponsors, the whole community rallied around the athletes and their families to provide meals, lodging, and encouragement throughout the week.  For the first time, I was a part of a 5K that was only wheelchairs.  They marked the manholes, cleared the paths of gravel, and asked local residents to keep their dogs inside.  These are details that aren't usually needed in a foot race, but they are in a push wheelchair competition!  

     Overall, I was excited to find myself in the family of wheelchair racers, not just out there by myself.  The Lord blessed me with an amazing opportunity.  His hand was with me.

It is God who arms me with strength

    and makes my way perfect.

34 

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

    he enables me to stand on the heights.

35 

He trains my hands for battle;

    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 

You give me your shield of victory;

    you stoop down to make me great.

37 

You broaden the path beneath me,

    so that my ankles do not turn.

--2 Samuel 22:33-37