Houston Marathon

on January 30th, i completed my first marathon. it really was a lot of fun for the majority of the race. i think i had the benefit of longer races under my belt. since the half ironmans take closer to 6 hours, 4 hours seemed short even though it was all running! (i know, it is crazy that i even say that!)

i started out too quickly with 8 minute miles for the first 3 miles or so. that is a reasonable pace for a 10K or something...but not 26.2 miles! i ran the half marathon in 1:52. that was the fastest half marathon i have done. i definitely slowed down after that point...total time of 4:05. i wanted to get under 4 hours, but i knew that was a lofty goal for a first marathon for a non-runner. next time!!

my cheering group!

just across the finish line!

life

this is why my job is so hard....and why it is also so rewarding. it's why i try to hold back tears every day at work.

oddly, this was one of my more frustrating patients...but i saw growth in him during this past year and a half. his belief in healing gave me renewed hope that it can happen on earth. i do wish i could witness it though!

some of the frustrating patients are also the most memorable...they have guaranteed that their story will be forever engrained in my mind.

his wife would be glad for me to pass on this link:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wacotrib/obituary.aspx?n=bryan-lee-russell&pid=148114140&fhid=8614

"Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do---He reveals to you who He is....Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unneccessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to go out in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus."

--Oswald Chambers

2010...now 2011

it is hard to believe that another year has come a gone. here are some highlights of my past year:

--i did an extraordinary amount of travelling this year...whether for work or fun. when i think through things.....i have been to NYC twice, Indianapolis twice, grand rapids, omaha, vancouver, ecuador, colombia, chili, france, niger, and israel. i'm sure there were a couple more domestic flights! all in all, i've been on 5 continents this year and racked up the frequent flyer miles...thank you free bags on continental and delta!

--Angie and Meridth both got married. so fun to be a part of it all!

--great personal/career development opportunities this year and further development of a friendship with my attending physician.

--a PR in a half ironman....and placing in the remaining 5 triathlons that i competed in.

--spending 3 weeks in Niger learning the role of a medical missionary (and also seeing one of the bleakest places on earth)

--a great time with my amazing sister travelling together and then running during Christmas

--talking my dad into completing a sprint triathlon......maybe not, but i can keep trying!

i have been absent

i have been a horrible blogger recently. really, who wants to hear about athletic events all the time? my friend shannon called me out on my lack of blogging....so this is for her. hopefully i'll do better now that the holidays are ending!

so, shannon and i met freshman year of college. unfortunately, that was before the digital camera age...and i don't have a scanner. many memories were made on the intramural football field and on the floor!

this is a famous picture from shannon's wedding....angie and i weren't really eating her wedding cake...but it looks like it! shannon married her high school sweetheart nathan. they moved to california and both got graduate degrees with the intention of becoming full time missionaries. they were both MKs (missionary kids) and met at Morrison Academy.

since going to CA, they have added a 3rd person to their family. Josiah is 2 now and i was able to meet him this April when i was in Michigan for merideth's wedding. they were in michigan while raising support to head to Hong Kong. when i want a little kid fix, i take a look at shannon's super cute blog about josiah! www.nsclifton.blogspot.com

the exciting thing is that they are at 100% of their financial support! yippee! i will soon have friends in asia (hint, hint shannon...you might have a visitor). more importantly, they will be equipping Christian pastors to reach their nation for Jesus. i'm so excited to see how God is going to use you all!