Monthly Update

Well, it's been exactly a month since my last blog entry about running. Last time was just before the Hope Rains 5k. I did run that race and finished third in my age group, and I won a box of doughnuts. Woohoo! But I also strained a hamstring, which I have been trying to treat gently for about the last month. So, I cut out the hill sprints and speed intervals, and gave up my aspiration to run a fast 5k this month. I also slowed down and shortened most of my runs, although I am still averaging a little over 25 miles per week for the last month.

The last week or so my hamstring has been feeling much better, but is still a little tight. I have had a few good runs lately. On May 19 (Tuesday) I decided to test my legs a little and did some tempo intervals - 2 miles at 7:30 pace, 1 mile at 9:30 pace, and 2 more miles at 7:30 pace. I felt pretty good about that run. Then on Thursday the 21st I did an 8.7 mile run with some of the RunnersWorld group. I sort of did that like a Fartlek workout. There were a couple of stretches where I really pushed myself. Halfway through I tried a sprint up the grassy hill at 11th & Riverside, but I just gave it a moderate effort up the hill instead of a full sprint. Hamstring still felt a bit iffy.

The next couple of days my legs felt a little sore, but it was more of a tired sore than an injured sore. Saturday I did a 13.5 mile run with Rusty. I think we were maintaining about an 8:30 pace or so most of the way, but then I got hot and dehydrated. My right hand started to feel puffy and sort of numb and tingly, and my calves started some mild cramping. When we got to Turkey Mountain (after about 10 miles), I walked the hills, and I also walked a bit between 71st and Helmerich Park. Rusty finished ahead of me, keeping a pretty good pace. I finished with an average pace of close to 9 minutes per mile.

Last night I did the same 8.7 mile route that I had done the week before (from RW to the river, north, around Zink Lake, and back). This time I did it with Larry and Brian. Brian said he would like to do 8:30 miles, so we tried to beat that most of the way. We averaged about an 8:16 pace (that's with stopping the watch at water breaks). Here are the approximate mile splits (This is based on my stopwatch and my recollection of where mileposts used to be. I don't have one of those fancy Garmins.):

mile 1 - 7:55 (I told Larry he was going out too fast!)
mile 2 - 8:20
mile 3 - 8:29
mile 4 - 8:22
mile 5 - 8:30
mile 6 - 8:15
mile 6.6 (about 0.6 mile) - 5:03
mile 7.6 - 7:31 (1/2 splits were 4:06/3:25, and the last 1/2 got progressively faster!)
mile 8.7 (about 1.1 mile) - 9:35

My legs feel pretty good today. I think I may run the Kidney Klassic 5k tonight, but it won't be all out.

Sarah is Going to Honduras

In my last post, which was almost two weeks ago, I told you about my daughter, Becky, who is going to Guatemala for a summer mission trip with a medical team. This post is about Sarah, who is going to Honduras with our church youth group. Sarah is the one who went to India last year. Anyway, the pictures in this blog entry are what Sarah sent to friends and family to let them know about the trip. I would appreciate your prayers for both Sarah and Becky.

Becky is Going to Guatemala

My daughter, Becky, is going on a mission trip to Guatemala this summer. I would appreciate your prayers for her. Becky mailed the post card and letter below to friends and family to let them know about the trip.

Dear Family and Friends,

I am excited to tell you about how God has been directing my steps and preparing me to follow Him to accomplish His plans. Last April I found out that I had been accepted to the nursing program at OU. This was a complete surprise to me because of the competitive nature of the program, but I had much peace knowing that it was God who orchestrated the whole thing. He has placed me at OU where I am enjoying studying and practicing nursing care in local hospitals and community clinics.

This summer I have been given the opportunity to join a team of ten OU nursing students on a medical missions trip to Guatemala. For years it has been my desire to work in medical missions and I feel blessed that God has led me to this trip. From June 19th -28th, our team of nursing students will be going to San Raymundo, Guatemala to partner with local missionaries in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Dr. Cojon is the only local physician in San Raymundo and the president of the Asociacion Medica Quirurgica de San Raimundo. He is also the medical sponsor for our trip. The Vice President of the Asociacion Medica Quirurgica de San Raimundo, Eugenio Nij, is the local pastor at a Baptist church and husband to U.S. born Lori who has established a school that is situated right next to the hospital where we will be ministering. They work alongside several other American missionaries and local Christians in bringing the gospel to the locals.

The OU team will be working together with the missionaries and a multidisciplinary team of physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, translators, lab technicians, and nurse practitioners. Upon arrival, we will set up the clinic and the operating room within the hospital. Every day we will be caring for patients from their time of admission until they are discharged following surgery.

Nursing is a passion of mine and I have seen that when you are caring for a person’s most basic needs of life, it opens so many doors to show them their most desperate need for a Savior. I pray that you will join me as I follow the Great Physician to Guatemala. Your prayers are greatly coveted. Please pray for:

• Safety in our travels
  
• Unity in our team
• Open hearts and minds (both for our team and for those to whom we will be ministering)
• God’s name to be glorified above all!!!
  

The cost of this trip will be $2000 and I would appreciate it if you would prayerfully consider supporting me financially. Please make checks payable to Becky Sargent with OU missions trip on the memo line and send to:

11713 S. Vine St.
Jenks, OK 74037

Love in Christ,
Becky Sargent

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” – Psalm 96:3