Kristin McLendon

Kristin McLendon

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Over the Valley, Through the Jungle, Across the Pond...Jesus said Go.


I love what I do. I love my students. I love seeking the Lords heart for my students. I love hearing His heart for my students. I love when I don't have a clue what it is He wants us to do. I believe it is out of this state of desperation that He comes like a mighty rushing wind. I love when He downloads it out of nowhere and you didn't see it coming and it leaves you in a big puddle of a mess because you know it is nothing but Him. Yes, Yes, that is what the summer of 2017 will be for the McLendons.

Jesus. Jesus said Go. We don't always know what it will look like and that is okay, but we do know that He said Go. He said go tell your neighbor about me. He said go tell your classmates about me. He said go to the grocery store and share about me. He said go to the widowed, the brokenhearted, the rich, the poor. Go.

"Going" for the McLendons has had many faces over the past eleven years. This year looks more different than it ever has before, but the impact is one that we are undone by and eternally grateful that Jesus would choose us to lead. If you don't mind, we would like to take a moment and tell you about it - simply to ask you to pray for us! I (Kristin) have the honor and privilege of leading a "get your feet wet" trip to Costa Rica desiring to introduce our students to missions and show them Jesus' heart for when He said Go. We will continue our partnership with the Abraham Project in San Jose, Costa Rica. The Abraham Project just broke ground on Phase Two that will house two new Children's Homes! Please pray for our students that they would fall in love with Jesus' heart for the Nations and they would come into an understanding of their calling in His Kingdom.

Robert is leading a "next step" trip to The Isle of Lewis, Scotland to challenge our students in sharing Christ with those that do not know Him. They will have many opportunities to share Jesus with peers of their own age. Please pray for our students, that they will be deeply rooted in Him as they will encounter peers of their own age that do not know Him - many that are proclaiming atheists or agnostic. 

Please pray protection over both teams. Please pray for unity amongst our teams. We are extremely excited about the plans the Lord has for our Student Ministry as we feel the impact is huge. He is obviously sending us out to two physical places, but the impact that is able to be done in our hearts is even greater. 

We simply write this today to update you to share the stirrings in our hearts and how the Lord is leading the McLendons and to say we covet your prayers. We can not do this without you. 

Below are some pictures of past teams, but the locations of where we are going just to help give you a visual. To stay up to date with the teams you can click here:

RiverStone Youth In Costa Rica (June 5-13)
RiverStone Youth In Scotland (June 8-21)


It is over the valleys, through the jungles, and across the pond that we go. 
Love, Robert, Kristin, and Jude

RiverStone Youth Scotland Team 2016

RiverStone Youth Costa Rica Team 2015


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posted by Kristin @ March 14, 2017 0 Comments

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Praise the Invisible

(**This blog was written on the airplane out to California before my 26.2. That update coming soon!**)



No matter the run, no matter the distance, "somehow" my "random" shuffle of a playlist plays a Daniel Bashta song as the last song of my run. It blows my mind every time that Jesus even dictates the shuffle! He's so good isn't He? Sometimes it's All Hail. Sometimes it's Like a Lion. Sometimes it's Praise the Lord.

This past week for my last long run before heading out for the big race, it was Praise the Invisible. As I approached the last .5 of my run, the first few notes started playing and tears just came to my eyes. "Praise the Invisible. Praise the Immortal One. Praise God Incarnate, Praise Father, Spirit, Son. For He is God. For He is Holy. For He, Holds the Keys to the grave and Forever He will reign."

I ran that last .5 of my 12 mile run singing and worshipping (pretty sure my neighbors think I'm crazy by now). For He is the only wise and eternal King. He deserves all honor and glory. I finished that last run strong and thanking Him.

Sunday am, worship started and wouldn't you know the very first song we start singing is Praise the Invisible. I sat down right there and wept.

He is in the details. He cares about EVERY LITTLE DETAIL OF YOUR LIFE. He cares about things that bring you joy like running and He heals even when doctors say the opposite.

May you be encouraged today. Know He is God. He is Holy. He is the only wise Eternal King. Praise the Invisible.

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posted by Kristin @ May 04, 2016 0 Comments

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Jesus, Pneumonia, and a Marathon



I am less than two months past pneumonia and less than two weeks out from my first marathon. According to doctors I should still be hacking up my lungs. I only have one explanation for this and His name is Jesus. On my run yesterday (it was only a 5 miler) I was worshipping and thanking Jesus for this miraculous recovery and was thinking about writing this blog post. Then almost immediately doubt crept in. What if I don't finish. Should I wait till I finish my marathon to write this post. Then almost immediately (again) the word TRUST came to mind. And I just started saying that word over and over again as I ran those laps around the neighborhood (by now I have a good 1mile route nailed down). I trust you Jesus. I 100% believe YOU have healed me.

This journey to my first marathon has not been what I was expecting. I had not expected to have a week in the hospital and a full month of being on bed rest. But if I needed a lesson in the power of prayer and trusting in Him, I got one. I attended our church's Night of Healing Prayer and just wept as our people prayed for me. Begging for mercy and wanting to return to "life".  The next day I had my first full day of not sleeping in the middle of it. Glory be to God.

That next week I slowly began returning to work, and that weekend we had a guest speaker at church. At the end, the Lord used him to prophetically speak into our people. He asked if anyone needed new lungs and I stood as quickly as I could, holding my hands up, believing with everything in me for complete healing from the Lord. Eventually I opened my eyes and I was surrounded by youth that love me and were laying hands on me and praying for me. It is a moment I will never forget. In that moment I was changed and I will never be the same. I became the student and my students became the leaders. The Lord used them to speak life into my body and I became ALIVE.

To Him Be the Glory.

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posted by Kristin @ April 12, 2016 0 Comments

Monday, March 28, 2016

Scotland.

In 2005, I (Kristin) walked into Rev. Bills office and asked him to pray with me for a male influence on our youth group. Four days later he introduced me to Robert McLendon and said, “here is your man, now ask him to go to Costa Rica with you.” Little did we know how prophetic that statement would be and the journey the Lord would have for us. We have now been married for over 8 years and have led many mission trips both together and a part. From Honduras, to Mississippi, to Costa Rica, to Scotland. One thing that has happened is we have both been to Scotland, but never together. Now on this wild journey called the life that we live, in 2016, the Lord is taking us to Scotland, together.

We can not even begin to explain how wild of a ride this has been or the emotions that go into this calling the Lord has placed on us. From those beginning days in 2005, to Robert being in grad school, to Jude being born, to Kristin in grad school, to the Lord opening the door for us to be in full time ministry together, January 1, 2015. To being ordained together on July 19, 2015. We get to spend our days together ushering students into the fullness that God has for them. We are so thankful to Jesus when we couldn’t see what this would look like, He knew all along, and of course it is even better than we could ever imagine.

Scotland is a beautiful piece of this journey. While Costa Rica has captured my (Kristin) heart the past few years, God has made it obvious that we are to step out of our comfort zones and take our students on a not so easy ride. While the Lord stretches them, we are expecting to be stretched just as much, if not more.

We will take a team of 22 to the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, June 1-15. We will be working along side our RiverStone sent missionaries to invest into the lives of children and teenagers on the Isle. We will be partnering with YWAM while we are over there as well. Our greatest desire is to be a blessing to the missionaries-that we would not be a burden, but bring them life, joy, and refreshment in the Lord. We will be doing street evangelism and this will be stretching for all of us-and our greatest desire is that our flesh will die and they will know that Jesus is the One that sent us. Please pray that we will have the spirit of boldness and that we would truly walk out the words of the Great Commission. Please pray for us as we lead this team. It is different than any other team that we have led before. Please pray for unity of the team. The Lord has laid John 17 specifically on our hearts for this team-that we would be One, so that the world may know who sent us. Please pray this would be true of us.


We are writing to you to today to ask you to please join us in praying for these things and of course anything else the Lord lays on your heart. We are trusting for an army of prayer warriors to rise up around us. We thank you in advance for partnering with us.

Secondly, this trip is a huge step of faith. It is more expensive than anything we have ever done, but we are firmly believing that what God calls us to, He will provide. We are believing that our students will see God during this trip as Jehovah Jireh - the God that provides - and He will unlock something deep within their hearts as He does. Cost for this trip is $2500 per person. Would you please pray about partnering with us financially? If you feel led to contribute you may CLICK HERE for the direct link and choose: McLendon Family.

We are so thankful for each of you and the love you pour out to our family. Thank you for being our army.

Love, Robert, Kristin, and Jude

Follow the journey:  http://youthinscotland.blogspot.com






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posted by Kristin @ March 28, 2016 0 Comments

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Journey of and after Pneumonia

**Disclaimer--I started this blog post while I was still down for the count. It was beyond good for my heart to go back and finish this, leaving in the not so fun details, but finish it out with testimony of the Lord's healing! Amen and Amen!**

Many people have asked me what exactly happened to me. For document sake, I thought this might be a good place to journal it all out. It is also a safe place to journal it out and for my heart to trust in the Lord and know He is in control.

I am one that tells others to journal their prayers so that
they may have a record of the way God answers them.

Here is my journal. Here are my prayers.
This is my journey through and back from pneumonia.


What started out as a beautiful weekend on January 29th-I had a great 
9 mile/marathon training run. Felt great and was
eagerly anticipating the next week where I knew training was 
about to be rubber hitting the road-and I was excited about it.
We picked up Jude from school and had
a great family day!


The next morning-January 30th-I woke up EARLY for a 5k run with Dorie
with a little twinge in my chest-but hey-I can still run a 5k!

By night time I was running a fever and the room was spinning. 
Kristin. Down.


Sunday am fever even higher.
Monday even higher-so we call the dr, but they couldn't see me till Wednesday.
Tuesday evening-in the E.R. with a 105 fever.

x-rays, lots of blood drawn, three bags of fluids and two bags of antibiotics later
it's declared I was septic, with low blood pressure, high pulse
and pneumonia...and I was being admitted.


Two days into being admitted, lab results came back and 
the stuff I had coughed up for them showed a rare bacteria-not so much
normal for normal pneumonia, so they switched the antibiotic I was on.

On Saturday, when apparently my coloring started to return, they let me return home with
instructions to be on bedrest for ten days.


On Wednesday I was starting to feel better, but also took my last dose of antibiotics.
On Thursday I could not move off the couch again and this continued through the
weekend. Sunday night my fever spiked back up again to 102.1
and needless to say I found myself back at the dr on Monday.


The results: I still had crackling in my lungs = pneumonia.
 The antibiotic they treated the bacteria with in the hospital
was specific to that bacteria/not pneumonia.
Round three of antibiotics was begun.


Round three of antibiotics seemed to do the trick, as my fever never returned.
We are incredibly thankful for the community that rallied around us,
prayed us through this season, and kept us fed!
The words THANK YOU do not even begin to seem big enough!


Now, a month or so later--I fully believe the Lord has healed me.
I was told that it would probably be months before I started to
feel all the way like myself again, and I would definitely
have that pesky cough for months.
I am excited to say that I am back to running and feel great.
 I do not know why I was
taken down this crazy road, but what I do know is that once I was back
on my feet, the recovery back has been quick. I give Him all the glory.




"It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy."
Psalm 92



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posted by Kristin @ March 24, 2016 0 Comments

Friday, February 12, 2016

Join me in November?

This past November, I was thrilled to have a Girls Night out with my friend Dorie. Now you should know something about our friendship...it's not a typical one. We have been known to fly across the country together and spend 32+ hours together in a van, running 200 miles...so a girls night out would none other consist of a 5k! I was excited to spend this time with her + have a night race---something I had never done before!


We had a great time and a great stroll through Piedmont Park in Atlanta. This is a favorite spot for our little McLendon Fam, so I was excited to do a race through the park!

Following the race, it did not take much to convince Dorie and I to sign up again for 2016! We had such a great time and the food after the race was the best I have ever seen (we all run for the food don't we? And well the t-shirt--and I love this tank by the way!). 

I was elated to be contacted soon after and asked to be an ambassador for Esprit de She 2016! YES PLEASE! I love this race so much, I had already signed up for it, and now I get to encourage my friends to come run with me--and give them a coupon code! YES!!!  



So here are the details:

Join me (and Dorie!) in Piedmont Park, in Atlanta, on Thursday, November 3rd for a Girls Night Out!

Pre-Warm Up starts that day at 6:05pm (with packet pick up beginning at 4pm) and the 5k race begins at 6:30pm! Wanting a little more? They do offer a 10k and that race starts at 7pm!

For all the details of the 
ATLANTA RUN click HERE

When you go to register, be sure to use COUPON CODE: 
GEDS16AMB039
to receive $5 off of your registration fee!
Who doesn't like a coupon?

I can't wait to run with you in Atlanta in November! 
Need encouragement getting started? 
Read my running story here, and I'd love to chat!


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posted by Kristin @ February 12, 2016 0 Comments

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?

It's been awhile since I've sat down and typed out a few words in this space. I have a few reasons. Most of which consist of 15-20 page Seminary papers. Details right? But I miss this little space of mine. It has a homey feel to it and to write without a midnight deadline is just well, nice. 



So how have you been? What I would love to do right now is sit down and have a cup of coffee with you and ask you my #1 question, How is your heart? How has life been lately? 
What has Jesus been telling you lately?


For me, I would tell you life is good. Seminary is well, Seminary. Not what I thought it would be back in the days that I called it C.E.M.E.T.E.R.Y. and that pigs would be flying if I attended...but good. Finishing up a practicum this week, then a week off, and then diving in deep to two more classes for Spring Semester.


Jude-well he is almost FIVE.YEARS.OLD. When did that happen? Seriously. I can hardly handle it. And he's almost as tall as me. I mean, it doesn't take much, but seriously? At FIVE?


So tell me about you? I have more to write about, but I want to hear from you. 
It's been awhile... let me know how you are doing and what I can pray for!

**All photo's are from The Focused Lily Photography and can not be reproduced.

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posted by Kristin @ January 28, 2016 0 Comments

Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas from the McLendons!

Maybe, just maybe by my third year of Seminary I will figure out how to manage Christmas card ordering season ... and finals. So far I am 0 and 2. Please keep sending them to us. We love them, we love you, and promise to return to the Christmas card circuit one day!

When I imagined a Christmas Card amongst coming up for air from finals, I imagined it arriving in your mailbox looking a little something like this:


Inside would give you a snapshot of our 2015 and giving glory to our sweet Jesus:


I would write you a short letter and would tell you that 2015 was a year that we saw Jesus fulfill the greatest desires of our heart. Robert and I became full time partners in ministry as Robert joined me as a Youth Pastor at RiverStone Church. In July, we were ordained, surrounded by our family and friends. Starting in ministry together in 2005, and seeing this fulfilled in 2015, we are truly thankful to the One who knows the perfect plan for our lives and a church that believes in us.

In September after a two week residency in Wilmore Kentucky for me, we decided to take a last minute vacation, and set sail to the Bahamas. It was the most beautiful time away just the three of us and truly a blessing from the Lord. Jude spent 8 hours straight on the water slide at our day at sea as we would casually look up from our chairs to make sure he was okay every once in awhile!

Jude is the most wonderful gift to us. He is our almost five year old, passionate about life, full of energy, all boy that is ready to take on the world for Jesus. He joined the Atlanta Track Club this year and ran his first timed race/mile in 10:20. I have to keep training just to keep up.

We are giving thanks tonight on this very Merry Christmas. Jesus deserves all of our praise, for He is worthy. Praying that you are resting tonight in the Peace that is Jesus Christ the Lord.

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posted by Kristin @ December 25, 2015 1 Comments

Saturday, August 22, 2015

You are my

With week one of pre-k behind us, this seemed very fitting. 
"You are my I love you"

I am your parent you are my child


I am your quiet place, you are my wild


I am your calm face, you are my giggle


I am your wait, you are my wiggle


I am your audience, you are my clown


I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down


I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice


I am your dandelion, you are my first wish


I am your water wings, you are my deep


I am your open arms, you are my running leap


I am your way home, you are my new path

I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath


 I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake


I am your finish line, you are my race


I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace


I am your favourite book, you are my new lines


I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine


I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo


I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

 Author: Maryann K Cusimano

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posted by Kristin @ August 22, 2015 0 Comments

Saturday, February 21, 2015

The almost four year old



The almost four year old is independent.
He wants to wash his own hair.
Bathe his own body.
Pick out his own clothes.

The almost four year old can *almost* brush his own teeth.
Can ride his scooter and asks to do so as a Transformer
in February.
The almost four year old can
Dream big dreams.
Pray real prayers...
and believes God for them with every ounce of his being.





The almost four year old 
pauses long enough to say 
"mama will you snuggle with me."
Loves big squeeze hugs.
Loves to tickle, loves hide & go seek.
Loves fruit, veggies, and eggs.
And pancake picnics.

Pictures taken on a random Tuesday in February-courtesy of Emily Cathryn Smith.

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posted by Kristin @ February 21, 2015 0 Comments

Monday, January 26, 2015

McLendon Christmas Letter: Now that it is almost February...

Well...Robert wrote a Christmas letter this year and we failed to get it in the mail. It is too good not to share, so we are posting it here. For all to enjoy. So, now that it is almost February we are going to officially say good bye to 2014 and say hello to 2015. 
Does anyone else wonder where January just went?


 ~~
I hope this season meets you with merriment and diminished anxiety (whatever that means). Once again, we decided it was best to send you an update on our family through the written word rather than a picture-perfect portrait of our family sitting in wonderment at how organized we are. We would have done that, but we really couldn’t find one or pose for one long enough for the needed millisecond of camera flash. 

Kristin is still taking on the world one student at a time as the RiverStone Student Pastor. She loves what she does when she’s not drowning in kids. She took a lovely group of students to Costa Rica this year to work with an orphanage and a local impoverished community near the orphanage. She is really good at hitting teenagers over the head with selfless reality. The kids are really no problem for her at all. She is having a blast with her students. Kristin fulfilled one bucket list item this year – she ran from the top of Mount Hood in Oregon, through Portland, and to the coast of Oregon. She did it with several friends and had a great time. They finished the relay in 34 hours! What is currently killing her is her recent decision to go to Grad School!!! She just finished up her first semester at Asbury Theological Seminary where she is getting her Master’s Degree in Intercultural Studies with a focus in Church Planting – this really means she is studying missionary processes both domestic and international. As much as it pains me to say, her school seems to be harder than mine. 

Robert has also had an interesting year. In January of 2014 he started a counseling internship working with individuals who were court-ordered to go to counseling for anger/violence problems and alcohol/drug abuse problems. Whatever you picture in your mind when you read that is probably pretty accurate. He encountered lots or rewarding and heartbreaking moments over the past year. This internship was long and had some late hours, so Kristin was single mother for most of the year. Robert also continued to work at RiverStone as the Missions Coordinator helping missionaries and mission teams get their finances in order and counseling leaving and returning missionaries through transitions. Robert also went back to Scotland this past summer to work with kids and host a summer camp – And his dad went with him. Robert did take time off during the summer to drive a 15-passenger van from the top of Mount Hood to the coast of Oregon. He drove 34 consecutive hours and stayed awake for 42 consecutive hours (needless to say, Kristin had more fun than Robert did). With all the busy-ness, Robert looked at life a lot like Forest Gump looked at running across the country. “When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.” Robert finished his internship on December 12th, and started working with Kristin at RiverStone as a Student Pastor January 1st. A dream come true for the McLendons!  

Jude has been a beautiful behavioral challenge this year.  I’m sure after reading this letter you can probably deduce that he has been acting out because he has been the only child of a working single mother this year. Jude’s energy level equals that of the sun. He is either “all systems go” or asleep. It is not fair to say he has been all bad this year. We have shared so many sweet times with our boy. We took a road trip to Asheville, NC, Lynchburg, VA, and Charlotte, NC with Jude in October. He had a blast, and we had sweet family time. 4-6 hour car rides are not really his thing, but he managed. 

Top 10 Lessons Life Taught Us this Year

10. If you take your dad to Scotland, don’t let him buy a kilt.
9. Kristin can run longer than most people can drive.
8. Oregon has traffic jams at 3am. 
7. Jude can go through a “hungry-tired-angry-wired-happy-snuggly-screaming” cycle in 90 seconds. 
6. Three-year-olds are the worst.
5. Three-year-olds are the best.
4. Kristin’s bucket list will probably kill Robert.
3. If a 3-year old wants to walk the dog, you have to walk the 3-year old while he walks the dog.
2. Don’t promise a 3 year-old movies for a 5-hour car ride if the portable DVD player doesn’t work.
1. Only the McLendons can get photo bombed by a man in a kilt while picking out a Christmas Tree!


Happy 2015 friends!

**Disclaimer:  Letter was written by Robert**

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posted by Kristin @ January 26, 2015 0 Comments

Sunday, October 19, 2014

When?

When is it that you re-start your blog?  Is it August 1st like I originally intended?  Or Maybe September 1st?  Or wait, October 1st?  Or the start of Fall?  Or maybe just go and publish all the drafts that are waiting in the ole blogger window....'eh how bout October 19th.  That sounds like a good day.  Although I don't know where to start.  The last time I posted was in February and to be honest that about sums up our year in the McLendon household.  We knew it would be by Gods grace that we survived 2014 and after this past week, all back together under the same roof, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Maybe I'll be able to process this past year one day.  But for one thing I know it's Jesus that I held onto ever so tightly.  Knuckles are a little whiter that's for sure.  Faithful is who He is.  Jesus.

Cheers to actually hitting publish on this blog post.  Cheers to my theme song of 2014.  Thank you Jesus for being my source.  Thank you for being faithful and being the One that remains.




posted by Kristin @ October 19, 2014 1 Comments

Friday, February 21, 2014

Yvonne is Running This Year!

Happy Friday Friends!  Excited to share another #RunThisYear Runner's Profile with you today!!  Don't you just love this community?!  

Today I have the privilege of introducing you to Yvonne!  Praying you each are encouraged as we share her story today!!!


Hi Yvonne!  I believe one of the best ways to be encouraged is to hear one another's "stories".  So let's start out by hearing YOUR Story!  Tell us your "Running Story!!"
Growing up, I was a tall-uncoordinated girl.  I was never, NEVER, picked to be a part of a team.  I tried out for everything – volleyball, basketball {hello .. I did say tall}, softball and cheerleading (not even sure what I was thinking there-remember “tall-uncoordinated”) and wasn’t selected for a single one.  The only thing I could join was band {tallest trombone player in the marching line-up}, ha, because I couldn’t be turned down!  In my head – I am not an athlete!
I sit here now, a “twenty-year wife”, mother of two crazy teens and a 4-legged pup.   I am a vegetarian, part-time vegan foodie, and a dedicated running road and trail {race} fan.  Some may even say now an athlete.  Somewhere in my later 3rd decade, I decided to really run full force and haven’t stopped, only sped up!
Are y'all encouraged yet?!  I am! :)  

Is this your first year participating in #RunThisYear?  What is your goal for this year?
This is the first year for RTY for me.  I watched from afar last year and was mad I didn’t join in.  So this year I was ready with my goals:  an Ultra and 2400k or 1200 miles for 2014. 

 Having a schedule and a race to prepare for helps me stay on track.  This year (running wise) so far will be my biggest race accomplishment.  The goal is to cross the finish line feeling strong and happy...then there may be a second Ultra shortly after!!

Tell us about your favorite race to run and if you follow a training plan to meet that goal!
I did my first "race" almost 11 years ago and it was a full marathon -- it wasn't graceful, fast or love at first run either (up until this last California International Marathon 2013, I disliked full marathons).  Yes,  I learned the hard way TRAIN PROPERLY and you succeed. It was after my first not so fun marathon when I fell in love with the half marathon distance, my first one in 2007.  Since then, I have ran approximately 17 half marathons, as well as 4 full marathons, three 200-mile relay races (Ragnar Relay) and several road and trail distances in between.  None of my races have been "easy" but I have found that if I stick to a schedule and stay consistent I finish successfully (as mentioned above this too was learned several races into my journey) -- and I am always ready to sign up for my next!

Right now, I am now just a few weeks out from my first Ultra 50k (on March 8th!).  I started running the trails about 3 years ago and  I love it! I am currently following a plan from Tiffany (Running Hutch) and one from a local running store.  I've also recently added strength training into the mix.  I really do think it's added to my successful long training runs that have varied from anywhere from 13-24 miles, with my longest trail run to date coming up tomorrow...26 miles!!!!


To close us out, do you have any tips to encourage us with?
One of my biggest tips or lessons that I've learned is to stay consistent with a training schedule.  It is okay that some days are good run days and some not so good.  It is the act of continuing to move forward that makes success. For me I feel so lucky and blessed with my running friends who motivate, inspire and cheer me on every mile along the way! Seriously some days you don't feel like running, but once I get out there it is like therapy, and it turns every day into a better day! 

 I also finally feel that I have learned how to properly fuel my body for endurance training.  In several races and during training in the past, I found myself crashing towards the end or immediately after.  This too is something that I finally took seriously and stuck to.  It has made a huge difference in the way I feel during and after long runs. 


Thanks Yvonne for encouraging us today!  
Yvonne has her eyes set on her BIG RUN--Ultra50k just around the corner and her longest trail run TOMORROW!  Let's jump in and encourage her today!!!

Blog:  ynowanathlete.com
FaceBook: Y Now an Athlete
Instagram: @ynowanathlete
Twitter: @ynowanathlete

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posted by Kristin @ February 21, 2014 1 Comments