Why am I Here?

We are now in week 3 of marathon training. I am starting to get into a rhythm of early morning runs again, something I have missed.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to explain a bit on why I am running for Inheritance of Hope.

 Last year, my good friend Leslie Sloan announced she was going to run the NYC marathon and she was going to do it by running for a charity called Inheritance of Hope, an organization I had not heard of before. Throughout her training I was able to get a first hand glimpse at this amazing organization and what they have and currently do for families with a parent(s) who is battling a life threatening illness. I got to watch her work really hard to not only get the training done for the marathon but also to raise money for Inheritance of Hope. I attending several of her fundraising events and watched as each week she seemed to be so full of life even after a grueling 16 or 18 mile run. I watched her selflessly complete grueling training runs, solicit people on facebook, set up events, write letters and make phone calls so that she could reach her fundraising goal. I also watched her surpass her fundraising goal and continue to raise money even though she wasn't required to go above the minimum. I watched her passion for running, people, Jesus and her family grow with each day. It was an incredible journey to witness.

This year, Leslie approached me and our friend Jenn Murphy about joining her on the Inheritance of Hope NYC marathon team. My first reaction was one of hesitation. I had just gotten a very highly demanding job, had plans to move out of the Blue Barn and also become a Wyldlife leader (hanging out with sweet wild and crazy middle school kids). I had been training for a few races here and there but not at all thinking about marathons let alone running a marathon for other people. So when she first asked, I hesitated. I hesitated because I didn't want to be stretched to thin, I wanted time for myself, I didn't want to be too tired, I didn't want to have to fundraise, I was worried about fitting in the training. The list goes on. And it was all about me.

 So I told her I'd think about it. And boy did I think about it. Took me over a month to make a decision but when I finally sat down and thought about it I thought about what we would be running for. I thought about the countless families that l would get to run for. I thought about how it would be a sacrifice for me but that I was ready for it! Because ultimately it wasn't about me. The last marathon I ran was totally about me. Could I make it? How fast could I run? This time around it would be different. I would be doing all of it (training, eating, sleeping, raising money) for others. And it was then that I had my decision. It was an overwhelming YES! I am in. That lasted for a few days and then the doubts crept back in. I had committed but was struggling with thinking about all of the what ifs, could I do it? and so on. But then I remembered I could absolutely do all of it and that I feel pulled to do all of it. I was also reminded of Hebrews 6:17-19

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,  so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain"

This hope is the hope of Jesus and it is a hope that I hold fast and firm to. It as a hope that is offered to these families and a hope that has carried me and my family through some pretty dark days. It is ultimately this hope that motivates me to pester people for money, go for long runs in the dark and carry arounds a snack bag at all hours of the day. It is a hope I want to share with as many people as I possibly can. 

So here I am in the first 3 weeks of training. I have to admit, I am tired, I am hungry all of the time and my body is adjusting to mileage but yet it has been a fantastic three weeks! I have raised $320 dollars so far but have a long way to go to reach my goal. Won't you please join me in this journey? Click below to go to my personal sponsor page.

http://inheritanceofhope.org/sponsorpage.html?eventid=66&regid=2970&rowid=2970

Want to know more about Inheritance of Hope? Click here to go to their webesite

Chacos for the Win

Ever since I opened the box on my first pair of chacos about 10 years ago as a freshman in highschool I knew it would be my favorite shoe. It was so practical and I could wear it with anything, yes anything. Chacos are literally the best. And living here in Asheville they can be classified as a hiking shoe, river shoe, casual shoe, and yes..dare i say it..a 'dress' shoe. This last one has been important to me in the last week.

Two weeks ago I started feeling what I have deemed to be the possible onset of plantar fasciitis. Basically I switched running shoes for two weeks and it was horrible so now I am dealing with some acute heel pain. This is where Chacos come to my rescue. They provide the support I need to let my foot heel. I am now wearing them all day at work (ugggh) and at night in my house. I also stretch like a crazy person and ice/golf ball roll my foot like crazy. And you know what, it is working. And I am literally giving the credit to my Chacos. Now, this pain will probably continue through my training so stay tuned for that one but I will do everything in my power to not let it slow me down!

And so far so good. Week 1 of training is in the books. Leslie, Jenn and I all completed our first long run of the training plan this weekend. Leslie is in Colorado running at high elevation so Jenn and I are holding down the fort here at more manageable oxygen levels. Completing this first long run means one week closer to the start line in NYC! This also means we are one more week into our fundraising and I am a little closer to my $3,000 mark. Won't you join with me in this journey? Click the link below to donate today! Keep checking back here for updates.

http://inheritanceofhope.org/amy-noll-2970

Here We Go!

Yes. Over two years and lots of crazy awesome life changes I am back at the blogging. I came back from Spain in the summer of 2012, finished up my Spanish degree at UNC Asheville and spent a year as a nanny for two of the greatest families in the universe and then was recently gifted a job as the Director of Training for a software company here in Asheville called iStream Technologies that has created an application for Anesthesiologists and CRNAs to do electronic charting. I am currently in charge training about 200+ individuals on this technology. It has been such a sweet gift from the Lord that has also challenged every single part of me. I am extremely grateful for it. I also recently moved out of the Big Blue Barn and into an apartment with a girl named Carolyn who is here doing a dietetic internship. She is great and we are getting along well! I also just recently became a Wyldlife leader. Wyldlife is the middle school version of Young Life. I am so excited to be part of the Valley Springs middle school team here in south Asheville. I recently went to camp in Florida with 11  middle school girls. It was a fantastic week of laughter, no sleep, way too much sugar and a whole lot of Jesus!

I real reason I have resurrected this blog is to document my journey to the New York City Marathon on November 2, 2014. I will be running it this year with my two very good friends Jenn Murphy and Leslie Sloan. Leslie ran the NYC marathon with Inheritance of Hope last year and encouraged both Jenn and I to run with her this year. I have not run the New York City marathon before and I am very excited for the opportunity to run it for Inheritance of Hope. The link below will take you to my sponsor page and an explanation of this charity I have chosen to run for. My personal fundraising goal is $3,000. I invite you to team up with me in this experience.  You can donate at the link below and feel free to share with others! I can't do this without all of you and your wonderful support. 

http://inheritanceofhope.org/amy-noll-2970

Thank you!