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Reset
Every time I go to Sedona, I’m reminded how important it is to take time to reset. To step back from the rush of daily living.
Rest gives you a chance to breathe again. To gather up the strength you need to face the next challenge.
That challenge could be another day at work, facing the next day alone after the death of a loved one, dealing with illness…
Whatever it is, I want you to remember, you are strong. You are loved. And you CAN do anything.
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Writing Retreat…
I’ve started a new project (and yep, my little friend, Alastair, that you’ve been seeing all over Instagram might make an appearance) so I’ve jetted off to beautiful Sedona AZ for some power writing!!
How can I not be inspired by these beautiful sites:
Writing before the fire 
View from the front door 
Trail running on Bell Rock Path 
Trail running on Bell Rock Path 
More Trail Running! Hope you’re having a great day wherever you may be. 🙂
Sincerely,
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Sedona Sunset
You know I love sunrises — I post pictures of them enough between here and Facebook. But I love sunsets, too.
So, I have one for ya here. I took this one from my dad’s backyard in Sedona, AZ.
Sedona is one of my favorite places to visit. Not just because it’s where my dad lives, but also for its inspiring beauty. I’ve written many thousands of words up there while looking upon this beauty.
I hope you all have a great weekend and get to take some time to enjoy a nice sunrise or sunset!
See you Monday.
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And I’m off…
I’m up in beautiful Sedona, AZ today, running a half marathon. What’s unique about this particular 13.1 miles–HILLS.
Yep.
Although Sedona has fantastic views, beautiful red rock….it also has massive hills.
But that’s the challenge, right?
I ran this course last year in just over two hours. I’m hoping for just under two hours this time…
I might need a little help from the road runner, huh? *grin*
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Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Running the Race
Charlie, me, and Dad at the start As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I showed up in Sedona on Friday night and surprised my dad by announcing I was running the half marathon the next day.
I’ll never forget that memory as long as I live. The look of utter surprise was priceless.
Dad, me, and Charlie at mile 1.5 Dad’s been running marathons since the early 80s. I, as a kid, would color little signs and post them in our car window as we travelled around to his races.
No wonder I have the exercise bug, huh?
LOL
Anyway, I heard this might be his last, or one of his last marathons, so I wanted to surprise him by running part of it with him.
Me around mile 8 So, I trained for my second ever half marathon.
Yikes.
Now, after my first, I pretty much swore them off because–well–they hurt!
But, I just had to go do this one. My dad and beautiful Sedona were worth it.
Me and Charlie at the finish And yeah. This one hurt too. But I’d never be sorry for the fun memory I got to make with my hubby and my dad–two of the most important men in my life.
So, Dad, thank you. You’ve taught me what it means to set a goal and work hard for it. I’ve been able to apply that to all areas of my life, not just exercise.
And Charlie, my sweet hubby who ran most of the race with me on Saturday, thank you for your constant and unconditional support.
Me and Dad at the finish of his race -
The Hill
The HILL....tough ride up one side, but look at this view going down.... ~~~
This past weekend I fell into a mood of contemplation. It doesn’t happen often, but it started with a hill, a song, and this sign.
I know, you might be, like, “Jeez, does Lynn ever not relate something to sports?”
I’d have to say, “Rarely.”
I grew up in an athlete’s home (Dad was a marathon runner/Mom tennis player), sports helped pay for my college, I married a sports nut and athlete . . . So, yeah, pretty much most of my ‘insights’ if you call them that, relate to or are triggered by sports.
This past weekend, we went to Sedona to do a monster bike ride. Mega hills out there.
Sufficient, by Adie Camp was playing while I tried to get up this one hill. I didn’t think I’d make it to tell you the truth. I was totally empty, I am only so strong, right? My abilities can only take me so far. Maybe this hill was just too big for me.
Then these words came rattling over the earphones:
Be my strength lord when my strength fades away.
When I am weak, your strength is complete.
It’s perfectly, completely all I need.
Well, I made it up the hill and at the top took the picture you see to show the curves and a little bit about how much it goes down. I think I hit 35 MPH on that downhill.
But more than the excitement of hitting such a top speed on a road bike, and even more than the thrill of having made it up the other side of that hill, was the gentle reminder of knowing I can’t do it on my own. Because I am weak but HE is strong.
I needed that reminder.
