SuperStarrs, I pray you are having a Fabulous Fall!!! I am so thankful for the cooler running weather. The trees are changing colors and the sunsets are so colorful this time of year. I have been just so grateful for all that God has been doing this season. Especially the fact that I just completed My 6th Half Marathon!!! I can no longer count on one hand, how many Half Marathons I’ve ran. 🙂 I’m amazed that what I once felt was impossible for me to ever do, I’ve now done 6 Times!!! And I’m not done. The next day I was online looking up my next race. LOL!!! God is So Great!!! He helps us to get to where we want to be. All we have to do is ask Him to help us & He is with us every step of the way!!! Then before we know it we are doing it, have done it & are working towards getting better, stronger, faster!!! Some days can be weary and we can feel like we might never get there but, if we keep on keeping on we will get there.
For more pics from this race follow me on Instagram.
This race was the Whiskeydaddle in Peoria, IL & I ran The Bottle, which is the Half Marathon. This race had perfect cool Fall weather which we were all thankful for.
The morning started off like my other races before. Feeling a bit sleepy from not really sleeping well the night before. I am always nervous about sleeping thru my alarm and not making it to the race on time. Adrenaline is pumping and I am having to keep a balance. So I have to remind myself to run fast while I’m fresh and not as tired but also not too fast where I am burnt out and have nothing left for the last part of the race. I might feel super fast for a few miles but I have to run 13.1 to finish. So after 3 miles in, a guy on the sidelines cheering for us says to me “I am proud of you!!! You are a role model!!!”. I said “Thank You.” & smiled back. But for the next four miles his words were like on repeat in my mind. Of course the whole time I am just thanking God for the transformation He has done for me in my life.
Ya see the day before I was with my best friends from grade school & high school, Andrea & Cristy. My dearest friend Cristy’s Grandpa had passed away. So all of the family was gathering together to celebrate Grandpa Rasmussen’s Life. Growing up I was a part of their family. Most nights I was gathered at their table for dinner & helped wash dishes afterward. Whenever I wanted to stay the night I knew I just had to bake up some Texas Brownies for her Dad, Tony. Her Mom, Rita taught me so much about being a Wife & Mom. It was such a Blessings growing up with all of them. I will always be Thankful for them sharing all they had with me. During those years I was so rebellious. I smoked, drank, cursed and anything else I could to tick people off. I was always disrespecting any one who would try to control or rule over me. So of course that cause major problems for me in school and with a lot of kids & their parents. Honestly I was a hurting kid who was just trying to hurt others but, mostly myself. A role model I was not!!! I was the poster child of angry teenager & who not to let you kid hang out with!!! Seriously, I really had other parents tell their kids that they couldn’t hang out with me. Anyways, all thru the day of being together, we shared stories of the crazy stuff we did, and all the drama that we survived. It was so funny hearing some of it from the parents point of view. Her Dad questioning the guys we were into. “Why are they going to listen to him, That guy can’t even sing”. LOL!!!
All of those stories & who I had been, was fresh on my mind & heart, when that guy called me a “Role Model”. The night before I had spent time thanking God that I was no longer that kid any more!!! I thanked him for the friendships that became family. I thanked him for them showing me Jesus!!! When I was hungry they feed me, when I was thirsty they gave me drink, when I was a stranger they invited me in. Luckily I never ever did go to jail for anything. LOL!!! THANK GOD!!! But I know that if I had they would have loved me thru it!!! When I moved to Mackinaw it was my 6th school move and we were beginning jr. high. Not a fun time to be trying to make new friends. I was a stranger and they invited me into their family. They always loved God & showed it by loving others. They never preached to me, they showed me. They were Matthew 25:35-40 in action. I know I am where I am today because of The Rasmussen Family!!!
So as I am running I just continue to think about where I was and where I am now. How Awesome God is!!! That Jesus loved me thru all my junk. Thru all my hurts & He healed me thru so much. It’s been years since I smoked or acted like that angry teen. I know He has had Great plans for my life from the beginning. I feel like I see now why the devil was working so hard to try and take me out. If I’d kept smoking there is no way I’d be running now. I am just so grateful that He is choosing to use the opposite of what the devil wanted to & tried to take me out with.
God has given me Health & Energy. Smoking & partying was robbing me of my health & energy. They were only temporary highs, followed by a painful crash. I remember when I was trying to quit smoking, I thought it was impossible. Now it’s been 16 years!!! God has given me Peace & Joy!!! So much that I forgot how angry & hurt I once was!!! The enemy constantly reminded me of my hurts which only kept stirring up my angry, making me bitter. I do have some bad days, but nothing compared to what I used to have without Jesus!!! On my bad days I cry out to Jesus!!! He always helps me!!!
As I was meditating on all God has done for me and in me, it just fired me up to continue running my race, not just the one I was running but my “In The Weighting” Journey. Being told I am a “Role Model”. WOW!!! SERIOUSLY, WOW!!! GOD IS SO AMAZING!!! So about this time I realize that I have been pacing back and forth with a lady & her dog. He was Super Cute and I’m not prideful, but I wasn’t gonna be beat by a dog!!! LOL!!! So I kicked it up and before I knew it I was Halfway, Mile 7!!! The added bonus was My Cheering section was there, Bob & the kids were waiting for me!!!
This race really did seem to go by much faster than the others before, because it really was faster than any race before!!! As I continue to run I am more & more determined to PR this race. So I kept pushing myself to keep up a faster pace. By the time I hit 10 miles I was getting tired but I kept going. I kept digging deep to keep myself from slowing down. When I hit Mile 12, I kicked it up and kept telling myself to “run hard”. “I’m not tired yet”. “I’ll rest when I’m done”. “I’ve got just this last mile to run & make a difference of my time, after that I can do nothing the rest of the day”. That last mile I past a lot of walkers and everyone who saw me knew I was on a mission. Determined Debbie Full Starr Power!!!
The Rush when I cross that finish line is always Amazing!!! It’s the Highest High!!! Even though I was tired & sore for a few days, it was a great reminder of how hard I worked & what I had done!!! On that Sunday, I had ran a Half Marathon before most people were out of church or even out of bed!!!
I Totally earned my Bling this race!!! I finished 2:56:37 Making this my 3rd race under 3 hours & 2 min & 8 secs faster than my Green Bay time in May!!! Making this my Fastest race, so far!!!
Check out My BLING!!!
I want to say Thank You SuperStarrs!!! Thanks for reading my post, watching my videos, liking my pics & for every encouraging message & comment you write me!!! I love hearing from y’all!!! I pray I am able to encourage you all to Dream Big Dreams!!! Even if you think they are impossible, with God All Things Are Possible!!! Jesus said it & I Believe it, because I am living it everyday!!!
SuperStarrs Remember that you are Loved!!!
Jesus thinks You are to die for!!!
Whatever Dream you have stirring in you, take it to God, & ask for His Help!!!
Believe & Trust God!!!
Be patient while you are “In The Weighting” & Make Healthy Choices!!!
IN THE WEIGHTING 