+FillUs

Nose Hill The month of June thus far... May 31 - June 9 : Port-au-Prince, Haiti with eMi - read report here . June 11 : Fly to Calgary June 13-17 : Calgary > Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming > Lethbirdge, AB > Calgary June 17 - July : Calgary The torrential rain in the past week flooded a couple towns, including Canmore, Banff, and downtown Calgary. Hence, I'm staying put for the first time in awhile, sipping coffee and organizing my thoughts and experiences. While travelling and seeing new things are always exciting, this is really why I am here: to find solitude, to listen, and to reflect in order to become a better servant.  In the past week, my daily routine has been getting up early, go for a run (more on that later), get to the eMi office, work on the Haiti project, and come home. Sounds just like what I do at home in Charlotte, right? It is. With the difference being I have the orphans, Bethany , and Pastor Jean on my mind all day while at "work." I...

Last Thursday, an email from Rocky Raccoon's RD unexpectedly arrived in my inbox, informing me that I'm moved from the wait list (of over 100 names before mine) to the runner list. I have been given five days to make a decision whether I want the spot and that has been on my mind since. Today is the day. A lot has happened in the last couple days. My weekend started Friday after work when I drove 3+ hour to Daniel Boone Camp, about 30 miles southwest of Asheville, to take part in the Art Loeb Trail Adventure Run by WNC Trail Runner. There were about 20 of us in the cabin (Yes, I didn't have to camp!) and it was such a fun gathering of runners. Next morning, they set out promptly at 6 a.m. to the other end of Art Loeb Trail at Davidson River Campground while I stayed behind for a little longer to start from this end of the trail for a much shorter version. The trail head is not even a quarter mile from our lodge and it goes up immediately. I ran, hiked, skipped, ...

6118 participants ran the 118th Around the Bay 30K, not counting walkers who started an hour earlier and relay teams. This is a race where there are constantly runners around me, either passing me or passed by me. Not only that, spectators and volunteers lined up almost throughout the course, except on sections where only vehicles were allowed. Hamiltonians go out of their ways to support us: putting up signs, cheering, setting up unsanctioned water stations, handing out orange slices, high-fives, live music...Although Hamilton is known for its poverty and brokenness, I've came to know and experience the most generous and loving people in this city. I arrived and parked with well over an hour to spare only to find that I'm not as early as I thought. Copps Coliseum was packed already. Two of my friends, Christine and Julie from Runner's Den  were running it as well and I met up with them at the 55 section, our usual spot for ATB. I still remember my first run with them a...

“More kilometers means more fun,” says Kilian Jornet after getting lost during his record-setting time of running up and down Mount Olympus earlier this year. He's such a tremendous runner with much grace, humility, and passion. I had my mind on what he said while running through the woods yesterday. Trail times defies the normal measure of time. It wasn't until almost two and a half hours into the race till I first looked at my watch. Minutes and hours did seem to stretch longer and longer as the race progressed, but I still savored every bit of it. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD,who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2 ESV) For Kilian, mountain has a soul and he draws its energy as he runs. Having grown up in the mountains, he has a much deeper understanding and appreciation of them than I do. But it's not hard to imagine the breathtaking views, the immensity of mountain range, and the limitless sky abov...

A runner averages about three or as many as six or seven runs a week. For me, I've been averaging about four runs a week. Out of the four, I look forward to my Sunday run the most. I look forward to running with my Sunday crew, and to the time spent with them afterwards over coffee and baked goods. With that said, the runs which energize me the most are the ones that I go with the intention to enjoy solitude, nature, and God. Nothing feels better than finishing a run with a full heart of joy, contentment, and gratitude. I had one of those this morning which left me reminiscing at 11:45 at night. What difference a run can make. Scripture for thought: “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” -Jonathan, 1 Samuel 14:6 Notice Jonathan says “It may be that...” I'm confronted with this all the time.  I know from history that God of the Bible is powerfu...

Pictures say it all. Here are our pre-race clean and sparkling shoes: Here are our battered post-race shoes: I'll admit that the mud did add to the fun even though I wasn't very fond of it, especially when it's on my body. Rain started pouring down when we were waiting around at race start. Turned out other than getting soaked, the rain kept the temperature down and was perfect for running. The original course included a greenway section that was flooded, so they changed the course to doing a loop around the lake, and then an out-and-back on part of the loop.  The trail condition deteriorated quite a bit for the second half of the race after all the rain and beatings. I found myself dancing around mud holes while trying to stay balanced and plant my feet properly. Although that probably slowed me down a bit, at least I was never bored. Going into the race as a training run, my friend Brian Boyle from Gaston Rehab Associates suggested me to try negative-split the...

The first eight minutes of Woods Ferry 24Hr. I was in the first few seconds standing around waiting for race start.

Did I think I could run for 24 hours? No! But I entered the Woods Ferry 24 Hour Ultra Trail Run anyway and came out finishing my first ultra in the least expected and unplanned way. For one, I didn't sign up until a week ago. And I didn't even think I could finish a marathon distance. Let alone an ultra. Woods Ferry 24 Hour is a low-key trail race organized and directed by Terri Hayes, who started the South Carolina Ultra Trail Series. Four years into its existence, the series now offer five races featuring various distances in different forests throughout SC. The best of all? They are all free events. No frills, no chip-timing, and no t-shirts. Only labors of love, fully-stocked aid stations, unique finisher's award, and good times. The race didn't start until 4 p.m., but I arrived early to set up my tent. Terri briefed us about the course 15 minutes prior to start. It's a lollipop-shaped course which consists of a 1.3 mile out-and-back connecting to a 4.5 ...

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3 This week, I had two lunchtime run. I confess that I couldn't concentrate at my desk. Everyday, having been working and sitting down for three to four hours, I start dreaming about trails and mountains and hearing my own running footsteps on soft soil. I often wonder whether my co-workers realize how much I move around in my chair during certain time of the day. There's something else this week. I started to worry about things that I shouldn't have and lost sight of what I should keep focusing on. Running distills my thoughts. Perhaps even my life. Everything becomes simpler while I run because it reminds me once again being human and acquiring joy is simple and innate. God has designed us to be able to experience joy in running, by being in nature, and by acknowledging that He is in control. Although in return, we complicates our lives by finding our security somewhere else...

Quite a few people found it amusing that I've ran half / full marathons but had never done a 5K. Well, I can't say that anymore because I just did my first yesterday at Columbus Firecracker 5K. Columbus is about 50 mins southwest of Asheville, at the foothill of the mountains.  Veteran 5K-er Richard Hefner said it was a tough course, which made me feel better consider how much I "suffered." The first mile was mostly downhill, leading to a mostly uphill mile two where I sworn to myself I'd never do this again, then rolling hills at mile three with an uphill finish. Going out, I didn't know what to expect. I know how it feels to run 3.2 miles, but I've never ran 3.2 miles hard. It's too short of a course to take it easy in the beginning but it's too long to go full out right off the bat. I ended up finishing 23:35.6, bringing home a pottery mug and a $50 check as second overall female. The joy of running a small town race. Shout out to Richard and...

After being turned back from the airport due to weather on Friday, I finally made into Calgary Saturday night, less than 12 hours before my fundraising half marathon for eMi. This is my first race after injury. Going into the race, I wasn't sure what to expect - high altitudes, hills, and my performance with limited training. But with all the travelling delays and flying 2,000 miles plus made me realize being there for this great cause was half the battle. And that took the pressure off. We couldn't ask for better weather. It had been pouring ALL week leading up to it. And today? Blue sky and sunny the whole time. I was glad to be away from the muggy weather in NC for a little bit. I crossed the finish line at 1:53. Not a great race time, but I did have a great time at the race. More significantly, I was able to go back and pace one of the first-time marathoners to finish her race in under 4:00. Greg Hanssen from South Coast Road Runners paced my last couple miles during my f...

I did 16 miles on the trails at Latta Plantation this morning. Some horse paths, some rooty trails; some hills, some flats. I felt good. My body didn't, but I did. I felt good because today's run was the first in a while that I didn't let myself off the hook too easily. Latta Plantation has 14 different trails. Some linked and some are loops; but they all offshoot from the main road. I don't know where I am most of the time while on the trails, especially since I like making wrong turns. But eventually I'll come back out to the main road and find my way again from there. I took the routes I did with two other runners last week, clocked 11 miles. That wasn't enough for a long run, so I pushed myself back onto another trail, thinking anything more than a half-marathon (13.1) is good (enough). Although ideally, I should be putting in 16+ miles in today. But you know, trail is tougher than roads - more hills, uneven grounds, and people say the garmin is usually of...

Visit the online fundraising page here:  http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1093808

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I was ready for another marathon. It wasn’t because I just had the best marathon in my life or I just qualified for Boston. Quite contrarily, I just limped four very painful miles to the finish, failed to break four hours, one of the two goals of this marathon. The other goal? Crushed as well. I wanted to remain injury free. From the very start, I followed the 4:00 pace group faithfully until the pacer had to take a bathroom break. So I continued on my own, checking my garmin from time to time to make sure I stick to a pace between 8:45 and 9:00 min./mile. Discomfort started kicking in at about mile 13, but it soon built up to pain. I knew I was in trouble but I couldn’t tell much beyond that. Somewhere between mile 16-18, I realized my running form changed due to tensed muscles from pain. One step at a time; one foot before the other. That brought me to mile 19. And Mile 20. Earlier during the run, a gentleman wisely said, “Mile 20 is half the rac...

Ran through Uptown Charlotte and climbed 683’ with over 1300’ elevation change along with a couple thousand runners, I finished my half marathon in 1:48:09 last Sunday. Here’s me with my finisher’s medal, adding to my collection of six this year. The concept of a finisher’s medal is foreign to my grandma. She still thinks I’ve won all the races. (Wouldn’t that be nice…)

I can now testify to the truthfulness of running the last third of a marathon with your heart. Physique plays an important part of the game, but at mile 20, everyone feels crappy. At the end, it is the mind who keeps one going, keeps one persevering, and keeps one enduring pain. During the last few miles, I really wanted to stop. My legs are sore, my feet hurt, and my knees feel like they could buckle anytime. My body probably really hated me for not listening, but I had to go with my heart that said no stopping. To my rescue, my friend Greg Hassen from Southcoast Road Runners found me and ran me in at mile 22. That was tremendous help. Perhaps I would have really stopped if he didn`t pace me and kept me companied. Thank God for sending help right when I needed it. Although I didn`t meet my arbitrary goal of 4:30, I was happy about the race. It was arbitrary because I never ran 26.2 miles in my life. Running an 8 minute pace on a 10 mile run doesn`t mean I could do the same for another...