Out and About!

Its been entirely too long since I've posted something...  the reality of it is that I have kept really busy.  I have been feeling better and so I have been out doing... and that is a wonderful thing when I think of where I've come from in the last year and a half or so.  :)  So anyway... its basically midnight and I should be in my bed fast asleep and instead I am going to post a couple photos and try and post again soon!  :)  Enjoy!

Expressing my Gratitude

Dear Family and Friends,

I think a lot of times we live in a world of “What Ifs”. What if I did this instead of that… What if _______ you fill in the blank for your own what if. In recent years I’ve made a practice of not entertaining thoughts of what if and trying to live in the present moment the best I can. Although today I have a very different what if in my mind.

On July 25, 2010 exactly one year ago today I was in a car accident that left me battling chronic neck and back pain for this year. Most of you know the details of that day. For those of you who don’t I was the passenger in my friend’s car. We were traveling on one of the highways here in Hawaii. We approached a construction zone and slowed to a stop. A couple minutes passed and I noticed a very fast moving pickup truck behind us. This pickup hit us traveling about 50 mph. He launched us into the oncoming traffic where we only nearly missed being hit from the front as well.

I was left with a painful neck and back injury. Early on in the recovery process I developed a heightened sense of thankfulness. There are factors that could have made the outcome of that day so very different. On this one-year anniversary I’d like to express my gratitude that I am here writing this message and thanking God that things turned out exactly how they did.

First of all I am so thankful that I am alive today. This year held so many amazing blessings. Since I was 15 years old I have dreamed of going to Paris and not only did I go but I got to visit precious friends AND run a half marathon there!

I am thanking God that I can appreciate the pain that I have had because even thought I have sleepless nights I can still pull myself out of bed and walk on my own two feet every morning.

I am also so very thankful for God’s most amazing provision. I had the privileged of being treated by the best physical therapist in the world! (and YES you are the best Tiffany Pragnell at South Shore PT!)

I can say that one year later most days I am pain free and that in some ways I am even stronger than I was even before the accident happened.

I am overcome with thankfulness when I think of my amazing friends and how they have faithfully loved and supported me through all the phases of my recovery. You’ve listen to me complain and have been so patient with me though these phases. You’ve talked me through the sadness that comes along with these types of experiences. You’ve prayed and spoken vibrancy and hope into my life.

I am learning through my injury a more balanced approach towards living life. I have been notorious in the past for living an extreme and crazy lifestyle. My body doesn’t tolerate marathon cleaning, marathon catching up, marathon sleep depravation… maybe it only tolerates real marathons now… heheeh… with balance consistent training that is. J Practicing balance is rewarding and a skill I haven’t had before this year.

The biggest thing I want to continue to learn and not forget through this experience is to continue to live each day to the fullest. I know that there is obviously a reason I’m still on this earth and I need to live accordingly.

Everyone reading this has played a roll in this challenging but amazing year. I love you and I am thankful for all of you. You’ve been the silver lining in many a cloud fill day this last year!

With all my gratitude and love

Cindy

More Paris photos

The Paris Half Marathon

Hellooooo!!!! :) I had an fantastic experience running the Paris Half Marathon!!! It was a truly amazing day! :)


The subway line we took to get to the race... Most of the people there and in the trains were runners for the race!!!! When we arrived at the stop for the half marathon the conductor announced .... "good luck to all the runners of the half marathon!!!" :)



This is the 24,000 runners getting in line to start the race! To say it was CRAZY is an understatement!


Me at the start line showing off my wild gloves! :) BTW... it was about 30F degrees outside!



Running through the streets of Paris! It was a gorgeous race route! :) Soooo so so many awesome things to see. :)

My first day in Paris

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

I'm leaving in a few hours for Paris France!!! I will be visiting with some awesome friends and running a Half Marathon. I believe it is going to be nothing short of EPIC!!!! I will post pictures here as soon as I can! :)

Paris Half Marathon

For those of you wondering.. this is the race I'm running in Paris. There is a fun count down for the remaining days until the race and on race day I believe you will be able to track my results.

Here is the website: www.semideparis.com/2011/index_us.html

and my race number is 38817 if you need it! :) Its only a few days away! WOOO HOOO!!!!

Today's Whale Watch

Aloha! I went on a whale watch today. This was my favorite shot of the day! :) It was an epic day out on the water! :) It was a great send off for PARIS!!!! I leave in two days! YIKES... When are the going to invent the self packing luggage??? I need it at this point! :)

Paris Baby!

16 days and I'm on my way to Paris!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!! This week has been my most successful running week yet! I was thinking about why I run this week and the best thing I came up with is because I'm thankful that I can run! :) At one point I was very concerned that it wouldn't be possible for me to run this whole race with my back and neck injury and now its looking like I might beat my Personal Record! I will be happy with finishing! I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Paris Prep

I leave for Paris in less than a month! WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! The days are flying by! I'm so very crazy excited!!!!! :) I've hit the point where my runs are starting to feel easier and I grow in confidence each day that this race is going to be epic in every way! :)

Life has been filled with lots of fun things these last few weeks. I've done some hiking, hanging out and going to birthday parties. :) I have so many things to be thankful for! :)

The Road to Paris

Hellooo!!!! Greetings one and all!

I am currently in pursuit of my latest of many crazy endeavors. Despite a chronic neck and back injury I have signed up for a half marathon in Paris France. Working around my injuries has been challenging but a good exercise in balance, discipline, and determination. Everyday is different and I've learned to be sure and take advantage of the moments when I feel good! I've had unrelenting support from the most amazing workout buddy. I've never realized so fully the roll that the encouragement of the people around us plays in our lives. I wouldn't be the person I am today without the people that are in my life!

I keep trudging forward hoping to tackle as much mileage as I can as the weeks pass. I think this has been one of my more challenging races I have prepared for. I can't wait to cross that finish line and look back on the journey that brought me there! :)

Well thanks for stopping in whoever is reading this and I will keep you posted as the weeks progress.... My check list to prepare for the trip is growing by the minute... mail in passport to have extra pages added since I filled it on the last trip, run, run, and run some more, find good cold weather running gear in Hawaii, do my physical therapy exercises, run some more, dream about Paris.. etc