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)

The Jessamine Journal

Before heading to track camp, Aerelle was interviewed by a reporter for our local paper.  They had a great time talking together.  Here is a link to the article and some great photos!

Article in the Jessamine Journal
Photo Gallery

Bluegrass 10,000 Winner

I BEAT THE RECORD!!!

Do you see the shirt?

The old record was 42:09.  My time was 39:49 for the Women's Push Chair Division.  That is more than TWO MINUTES ahead of the past time!

The old time was set in 1991 by Kim Martin (that was before I was born).  Last year I had a time of 44:16, a little less than two minutes out from the course record. That was my first 10K.  I was so encouraged by my time that I set a goal to be faster than 42:09 the next year.

This past week I had been looking forward to the race when the thought "what if I don't beat the time?" went through my head.  In my head it had always been when I win and not if I win.  This thought stopped me; I did not know what to do.  On Wednesday morning, I awoke to a sore shoulder.  Now the thought of "What if I don't finish?" was pounding through my head.  I shared this with my family and friends and they rallied around me and reminded me that real strength comes from Jesus.  I don't have to finish and I don't have to win to be the best I can in Christ.  To really win I trust in Jesus.  He gives me victory.





I have conquered far more than I thought was possible:  I have beaten the record by a good TWO MINUTES.  I almost beat the men's wheelchair competitor who has been racing for many more years than I have.  I have conquered my fear with the power of Jesus.  Jesus is who has given me this victory.  To Him be all glory.  He said to me the morning of the race "My hand is with you".

Joshua 1:9(NIV)   "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

A Huge "Thank YOU" to my first sponsors!

I designed the logo!

Message Aerelle's Wheels of Fire! on Facebook to find out how to get your T-Shirt.

I just wanted to brag on my girl for a moment.  

This wheelchair racing deal--it is her dream.  She brought it to us.  She started training.  She haggled for a good price on her chair.  (Thanks, Greg!)  She ran each week with the library running group.  She did the hard work and ran seven 5K's and a 10K in her first year!  It is her dream.  We just get to watch and encourage her (and drive her to training and races, and lug her equipment around(!).

Finishing the United Way 5K

Last March (2013) she wrote this in a draft for this blog:  
"00:25:38.8--This was my time.  My time in my other races has been around thirty minutes.  I did my first mile in 8:15"

June 21, 2014, she ran the United Way 5K on the runway at the Lexington Airport.  Her time?  00:20:27--Twenty minutes, twenty-seven seconds!  That averages to a 6:35 mile! What a difference a year of hard work makes!

First Place--Wheelchair Division

This past Saturday she ran a 5K in Wimore that she decided to do at the last minute.  It was not her best time, but with all the hills, it was great training for her 10K coming Friday, July 4.  On the same day, Tatyana McFadden, one of Aerelle's heroes, ran a 5K in 00:11:10.  Aerelle's response was giddy excitement for Tatyana, and then a quick, "Wow, now I've got to run one in 00:10:00!"

Wilmore start line

 What really makes me smile, though, is Aerelle's heart.  This dream isn't about winning gold in Rio or Toyko.  At its base, it is a dream to build a platform to tell others about a God who loves them desperately and died to made relationship with the God of the Universe possible then rose to give us life!  She remembers to keep things in perspective and uses all of it as worship.  She told me just yesterday, "Some of my best time to reflect on God and his Word is while I'm out in my chair."

Near the End of the Wilmore 5K

University of Illinois

Dear Blog followers,

Never did I think that I would be fifteen and looking at a college!  (This post should be in orange and blue, but since orange is hard to read, we'll just have to settle for blue and black.  You can look at my orange background once-in-a-while :)

In December, my parents gave me the opportunity to go to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a birthday present.  We were able to go for spring break and spend two days there.  On Thursday we went on a tour of the campus.  As we walked we found why it is in the BIG 10.  Friday we met with Adam Bleakney the coach of the University of Illinois wheelchair racing team.

Coach Bleakney showed us the training facility, introduced us to athletes and gave us tips to improve my performance.  One of my favorite moments was when we rounded a corner and Garrett and Iannah, who were walking behind me, said in unison "Whoa!" at the sight of a room full racing wheelchairs.  For me the greatest thing in being there was meeting other wheelchair racers.  

I explained it to a friend like this: imagine that your favorite color was purple and you did everything in purple.  You had heard of professionals doing everything in purple, but you rarely got to meet anyone else who did everything in purple.  Then one day you were invited to the purple club. 

When I met  Susannah Scaroni, Ray Martin and Brian Siemann, who were all in the London 2012 Paralympic games, I was very excited, and my dreams of representing my country on a world level did not seem far away.  God so kindly used the trip to encourage me to keep going after my goal of sharing the good news to other impaired athletes.  Thank you to my parents for the trip and to coach Bleakney for his time.

Now, I am looking forward to track camp at the University of Illinois in just two weeks! 

Our Family Is On Our Way to Meet Wheelchair Racing Superstars!

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