Still praying for the safety of my friends Dan and Vicki. Glad all of the others are safe.
Photo >> John Tlumacki, Boston
Just Horrible – Praying for all of my friends who participated in the race today. I’ve heard from all of them except for Dan. Very anxious about his safety.
Article >> 2 explosions at Boston marathon finish line
As a follow-up to my presentation tonight at Maple Hill Church of Christ, the following is a list of the individuals who made a commitment to Christ in baptism during our recent mission trip to Namasigue and the Island of Boca in southern Honduras. Please remember these new brothers and sisters in prayer, and please share this list with others.
Namasigue
- Juana Albertine Armas
- Rosahisela Briceños
- Maryuri Gomez Jarquin
- Belsa Marina Vetancos
- Joseline Escaleth Aguilera
- Emerson Beningo Armas
- Marcia Armas
- Karen Daniela
- Keyli Melissa Bonilla
- Betty Argelia Velasquez
- Maris Bonilla
- Daniel Edwardo Estrada
- Leyla Tomasa Salinas
Boca
- Ucles Ortiz Lopez
- Dubrisia Velasquez
- Antonia Florez
- Blasina Reyes
- Ermis Alonzo Nuñez
- Rene Hernandez
- Juana Maria Serufinos
I have been surprised how helpful and accommodating people have been when they see me in a boot. This weekend I flew up to see my terminally ill Grandfather. When I was at the airport people would practically run across rooms to help me. While I appreciate the help, it did sort of make me wonder, ‘where were you when I was flying 7 months pregnant trying to fold a stroller with one hand, manage luggage with the other, and keep up with an over-excited 3 year old?‘
Some people have been a bit over-helpful. I was offered a wheelchair on more than one occasion. And going through security, they offered me a cane. Yep. A cane. 7 days ago I ran 10 miles. Don’t think I need a cane, thanks.
So it rained this weekend. Not wanting to get mud from my parents un-paved driveway all over my boot, I tied a plastic bag over it. Ahhh, the target bag over the robo-boot. The look that says…I give up. We went for coffee and the barista asked me
So, how does it feel to have to wear a plastic bag on your boot to keep it from getting wet?
It feels awesome. Really, really great. Thanks for asking.
People are funny. And awkward. But mostly nice. I am thankful for the people in my life who can laugh and cry with me. The ones who love me even if I have a Target bag on my foot. The ones that know I don’t need a cane, but maybe a hug. Just not from a stranger.
-Olivia
This has been a hard week on the bench. No cross-training completed. NONE! Some of it has to do with business travel. Some of it has to do with Olivia being in Michigan the past three days to be with her sick grandfather, and having to take care of the girls. However, I could still have done some cross-training had I wanted to. The real reason I haven’t done any cross training is because of frustration and anger over being injured again, and allowing excuses to win out over training.
This was brought to a head earlier in the week when Olivia was also diagnosed with a stress fracture, and will also have to miss the St. Jude Country Music race later this month. Both of us love running and racing, and it is so disheartening to work this hard and then not be able to do the thing we love. In an instant we go from peak condition, and ready to engage beast mode, to sitting on the bench.
I’m not a Kobe Bryant fan, but last night when I heard about his torn achilles tendon, I remember thinking that he must feel the same way times a million. This morning, most major news and sports sites were commenting about a Facebook post he made regarding the injury. I have copied it below with the expletives deleted:
All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the [deleted] did this happen ?!? Makes no [deleted] sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what’s the purpose of social media if I won’t bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.
One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.
“If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. Ive always loved that quote. Thats “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.
I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge.
Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always.
Mamba Out
I realize I’m not an elite athlete being paid millions of dollars to compete like Kobe, but I feel the same roller-coaster of emotions that he expresses in this post. I KNOW this is nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it is still frustrating, and I still feel anger. I KNOW I want to work hard to overcome this, but questions fill my mind. At 38, is it possible to ever set a PR again? Qualify for Boston? Train hard without getting a stress fracture? I DO NOT KNOW!
Well, it is time to break out of my slothfulness, and get back to work. Thanks for letting me vent for a minute. Gonna take the girls out to the park for a hike before heading to pickup Olivia from the airport. Next week will be a better week.
Link to Article >> Amid Tensions, North Korea Prepares For Annual Marathon
(Thanks to Jeff Whittle for sharing this article)
Anybody else know there was a marathon in North Korea? Seems like one of the last places in the world anyone would want to go for a marathon, especially this year. Here’s a excerpt from the article:
North Korea is preparing for the 26th annual Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, scheduled to take place this Sunday in the capital city of Pyongyang.
Despite warnings of pre-emptive nuclear strikes and imminent war, ahead of the marathon state TV showed a calm scene in Pyongyang yesterday, with North Koreans holding open air dances in preparation for their April 15 national holiday.
Held every year on the streets of North Korea’s capital city, the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon will take place this Sunday as part of a broader multiple-day sports tournament held to commemorate the April 15 birthday of North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung.
It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses
About this same time last year, I remember thinking I had been extremely fortunate to have only missed one race due to injury, especially considering how many races I’ve participated in since 2008. Well, a year later, and 2 stress fractures later, I have now missed 8 total races. This really hit me yesterday after Olivia was diagnosed with a severe tibial stress fracture, and will miss the upcoming St. Jude Country Music Half Marathon. Between the two of us, we have now missed 12 races due to stress fractures and other injuries. These are…
Timothy
- 2008 St. Jude Half Marathon – ITBS
- 2012 Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2012 Murfreesboro “Middle” Half Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2012 Chickamauga Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2012 Flying Monkey Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2013 Oak Barrel Half Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2013 St. Jude Country Music Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2013 500 Festival Mini Marathon – Stress Fracture
Olivia
- 2011 Tupelo 14.2-Miler – Stress Fracture
- 2011 Women’s Half Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2011 Chicago Marathon – Stress Fracture
- 2013 St. Jude Country Music Half Marathon – Stress Fracture
There’s a LOT of running frustration in the Team Agee household right now. However, as I always say, this is NOTHING in the grand scheme of things, and we are very, very blessed in the life that we have.
Since both of us will be missing the St. Jude Country Music race, Kate will be carrying the Team Agee banner as she participates in her 8th kid’s marathon!
For students in my Wednesday night class on Romans: Handouts and Notes for Romans Chapter 15 are now available online. Lord willing we will cover this great chapter during class tomorrow night at 7pm at Bellevue Church of Christ!
Last night I posted the following statement regarding Southwest Airlines:
On a @SouthwestAir flight. Passengers still standing in the aisle, but no remaining open seats. I hate this airline.
Well….let me now share with you: “The Rest of the Story”
Turns out Southwest had not oversold the plane as it first appeared, though the real story is almost worse. I was the second passenger on the plane, and saw a large number of children boarding (I would estimate 30+ under the age of 12) after I had taken my seat. Many of these children were carrying large trophies, some of which were taller than they were. I later learned that they had participated in a large chess tournament held in Nashville.
After most of the passengers had taken their seats, the flight attendant in the back announced to the passengers still standing in the aisle that there were no more seats in the back and they would have to grab a middle-seat in the front. The front flight attendant quickly announced that there were no seats remaining in the front, so they would have to find a seat in the back. At this point I counted 10 people still standing in the aisle.
This back-and-forth went on several minutes, before the flight attendent in the back admitted that the reason why the back of the plane was “full” was because she had buckled the chess trophies into multiple seats in the back of the plane, even though it was a completely full flight.
You can’t make this stuff up.