Sara Hall: Back to the Mountains
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)
Posted March 7th, 2008 at 6:45 PM by Sara Hall
Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Sara Hall
Welcome to the official blog of U.S. middle-distance runner Sara Hall. Sara’s list of running accolades include being a former NCAA All- American at Stanford, the 2006 USA 5K road champion, and the 2006 champion at the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile. Check back every other Friday for her latest entry at http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/
This week I returned to our home in Big Bear Lake after a stint in San Diego, which is always bittersweet. After being down at sea level and getting a taste of racing, I just want to stay down and race every weekend! But as I made my way up the mountain, the sun was glowing on the snow-capped pine trees and I remembered why I love living up here. They day got even better when I was greeted warmly by our puppy Kai, a miniature Siberian Husky. Ryan was out getting a massage, so she was the only one around to greet me. We headed out for a run together before it got too dark and cold. Kai always makes runs go by fast, running gleefully ahead of me, chasing squirrels up into the trees and carrying a 5 lb. hunk of bone she found somewhere. I never thought I would be one of those people that became so attached to their pets (I mean, they’re animals, right?) but in the 5 months we have owned Kai she has brought such a joy to my life that I never would have expected. It’s neat how God can use even the littlest things sometimes to liven our spirits!
Afterwards, I met up with Ryan over at our massage therapist Lee’s home. Lee is an amazing woman who not only loves to work on us for hours, but to tell stories the whole time of all the different people she’s worked on, from movie stars to boxers. Ryan and I love her stories from the years she traveled the world as part of Lennox Lewis’ camp (the heavyweight boxer). What’s neat about Lee is that she cares more about us as people than as clients or athletes. She prays for us after every session, and we go out inspired for another week of training!
After Lee’s, Ryan and I went home and had dinner and S’mores that we roasted by our fireplace, a tradition whenever we make the effort to get a fire going. Being reunited with Ryan is the greatest feeling in the world, and I’ve been enjoying going on trail runs and cooking together, and feeling like I’m “home” just hanging out with him. Tonight we watched a DVD put out by World Vision on all the amazing projects they are doing throughout the world, from community rebuilding in areas affected by the Tsunami to homes for rescued child soldiers in Uganda providing therapy and teaching them how to be children again.
After living in such a bubble at the Olympic Training Center, and even now in an isolated mountain town, it is shocking to be reminded of what is going on right now in another part of the world. It’s exciting to see the projects that will be funded by the money we’ll be raising through Team World Vision, and I believe in the work so assuredly I’ve committed to give all of my prize money this year to World Vision. The thought of this inspires me to train even harder while I am up here, knowing there is still so much that can be done! I’m looking forward to the fall when Ryan and I can take a trip to Africa with them and see first-hand the projects funded by the Team.
But even more than looking forward to the fall, I am looking forward to this Spring! My training is going great, my body is 100%, and with each workout I get more and more excited. Hopefully I can contain this excitement as I put in another training stint up here in the mountains and let it come bubbling out next time I step on the track!
Check back on Friday, March 21 for Sara’s latest entry at: http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/
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Photograph: Courtesy of NYRR
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March 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pm[…] TheFinalSprint.com | Premier Running Destination for Marathons, Track and Field, Race News, Podcasts, Training Advice and More! created an interesting post today on Sara Hall: Back to the Mountains (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)Here’s a short outline […]
March 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm[…] Sara Hall: Back to the Mountains (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4) Written by on March 7, 2008 – 9:15 pm - Another fellow blogger placed an observative post today on Sara Hall: Back to the Mountains (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4) […]
March 8th, 2008 at 2:00 am[…] Sara Hall wrote an post worth reading today.Here’s a quick excerpt:After living in such a bubble at the Olympic Training Center, and even now in an isolated mountain town, it is shocking to be reminded of what is going on right now in another part of the world. It’s exciting to see the projects that … […]
March 8th, 2008 at 7:24 pmYou two are so incredibly inspirational as a family, as runners, and as Christians. Keep posting! Yours and Ryans’ blogs are beautiful.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:26 amSara - a quick question for you (or Ryan or both!). I notice you both pretty consistently reference “bubbling up” or “pouring out” when you speak about racing effort. It is an interesting way to look at it to me as it seems to speak to “effort” but not relative to being difficult (vs those that speak of “going hard” or “pushing the pace”). Any chance you could address this in a future blog or send me a reply? I’m always looking for ways to keep good mantras going. Already used on I heard you quoted on “Relax and Roll”! Congrats to you on the Winter season and good luck in the coming months!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pmThis is the first time I am hearing about you and Ryan. I love the idea of running to serve Christ instead of yourselves. You must admit, running can be a very selfish sport. Keep up the good work
March 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am