Wharf to Wharf

There is an annual race in Santa Cruz called the Wharf to Wharf. Where you run, well, from one wharf to another. It's a 10k, which means it's a little over 6 miles. Last year was the first year the Camp Hammer summer staff ran the race as a group, complete with designed t-shirts.

Daniel didn't run it last year because he injured his foot in a bike accident. Instead, he and I had one of the biggest fights of our relationship during the wharf to wharf as he drove the camp van around to the finish line to pick up the runners at the end. I don't remember what exactly we were fighting about, but we were sure fighting. For a really long time.

This year, more than half the staff signed up to run the race, including myself and Daniel. Lori and Andrew, another couple at camp, signed up too. Lori and I run together, so we decided we'd run this particular course together as well. And Daniel and Andrew ran together. Isn't that cute?

From the very start, Lori and I decided we were not going to put the unnecessary pressure on ourselves to run the entire more-than-6 miles of the race. We were going to do our best. On average, these days, when we run, we do a good solid 3 miles. The most I've EVER run is 5 miles and that was in college, back in the day :)

Oh, and also, I haven't run in a long time...maybe twice since camp started. The only real time to do it is before breakfast, and you're so exhausted at the end of the day that you (well, me and Daniel) want to hit the snooze at least 5 times before you actually HAVE to get up.

But I still feel like I'm in good (maybe better than ever) shape. The no-sugar thing plus walking around camp all the time, going up stairs and hills (the camp is built into a mountain) every day is exhausting! But I feel good :)

So, race day. The race was on this past Sunday, which I thought was interesting. But, oh well.

The Camp Hammer staff shows up at the race. We have car-pooled, and it is early. We are all wearing our "Hammer Stache '08" tank tops. "Stache" is really "staff", but most of the male staff has been growing out mustaches all summer, so it's "stache" on the tank. Daniel does not sport the 'stache. It was not my doing, either. He said "no stache" and I said "okay!"

Some of the girls have drawn blue staches on their upper lips with eyeliner someone has. It's funny. I opt for no 'stache. I can only imagine the sweat mixing with the eyeliner and my stache is only then blue gunk smeared from nose to chin. Ew.

The race begins. There are at least 15,000 people in the race, and more on the sidelines. So when the gun goes off, it's another 8 minutes before we actually get to the starting line!

Lori and I take off and play a fun game called "people dodging"--it is played just like it sounds. you dodge the people going slower than you and look for escapes through the crowds in order to set your own smooth pace.

Mile 1 is pretty hard. I think "great. This is not fun" but I also recognize that the first and second miles are the hardest. We push past.

At mile 3, I'm feeling good. So is Lori. My knee hurts somewhat from an old injury, but I am going to push past it. At mile 4, Lori and I look at each other and say "we are soooo going to run this whole thing!" At mile 5, it's a "Yes!!!!!!" (There are large balloon canopies that mark every mile. It really helps with morale, I believe. Those balloons kept me going). And then there was only one more mile left, and we were running hard. Our breathing was steady and uniform, we were not huffing and puffing. In fact, we may have been flying that last mile. We crossed the finish line, hi-fived each other, and shared a proud moment.

I ran an entire 10k. 6 miles! I never thought I'd be able to do that. But I did. And it was great.

I came home and immediately crashed into a power nap, and the next day my body was aching. And today I feel sick. Throat, body aches, you know. But the Wharf to Wharf was conquered by the Hammer Stache. It was a lot of fun. And it makes me want to do a half marathon, if my knees could take it. I'd definitely have to train pretty hard.

Oh! I also got a hair cut yesterday. Daniel and I went in on our day off to try a new place. I love my haircut. It's pretty short, just below the chin, and kind of spunky. The bangs I had are now side bangs. They were driving me crazy down in front. Daniel got a haircut too. It's still long, but now the boy's got style!

I am flying to Amarillo this weekend for my dear Lenna's wedding! I'll be singing in it, so say a prayer that my throat gets better. I know she doesn't want a frog croaking as she walks down the aisle :)

Only 2 1/2 more weeks after this one! I can't believe it.

Hasta,

Mrs. Proffitt

ohhhhhhhhh Camp.

Apostle 3 already...only 1 more to go after this? It seems strange that we spent months preparing for this program, and we spent more time preparing for it than we've actually been running it.

I had a similar feeling not to long ago----oh yeah, it was my wedding! 5 months of planning crammed into 5 hours of party. Wonderful, yes, but short? yes, yes.

We are still doing well...the other day a mountain lion was spotted chasing 2 bucks down the road from camp, so we're all on mountain lion alert. Not freaking out, but on alert, yes.

This weekend most of the camp staff is running a 10k race in Santa Cruz. I haven't run in awhile, so wish me luck.

In other news, I actually went to Texas a few weeks ago. My great-grandmother (Granny) passed away at the age of 93. What a life!!! I was amazed that I actually got to come to Texas for the funeral--if you didn't know I was in town, don't feel bad. I didn't tell anyone and it was a really spur of the moment trip....and I spent most of it with family, which was fabulous. It was a really great time of celebration and love, and remembering a beautiful life. The whole trip was a blessing...and it came at a much-needed time. I needed to get out of camp for a bit, needed to see my family, and I needed to be able to express the things I'm learning up here with them and have them accept me in it. so overall, it was really great and restful.

I'm sorry i'm a terrible summer-camp blogger. I have to run.....duty calls!

Freedom, Love, Connection, Value, Stripped.

I believe that, as humans, those are all things we really need to function.

I've realized these last 2 weeks that I am fully human and therefore, desire those things.I need those things.

We are on our last day of our first Apostle. For the last 2 weeks, we've been showing these kids what it looks like to be disciples of Christ. Not just believers or Christians, but disciples--discipleship: the intense, never-ending journey of being like Christ. It's hard!

I'm learning myself that I'm not quite sure I know who I am in Christ and in my journey of being a disciple. I know bits and pieces, yes, of who I am, but the whole of who I am I'm beginning to think I am just now starting to dissect and discover.

I think that comes with being stripped of everything I once found pieces of my identity in. Everything from my clothes to my job to the reputation of my name. I don't think clothes, job, and reputation are necessarily bad things to identify WITH, but I wonder if I found my identity in those things. Now that my clothes have had to change with my environment, my job has been nonexistent for the last 4 months, and I have a new name, I realize that when I am bare and insecure, who I am shines through. I'm not sure I really know that person the way I would like to.

So now I am on a journey to know myself--not in relation to what I wear or what my name means or what my job is, but who I am behind all of those things. I think I know some things, but I also think there is a ton I don't know--and a ton more I will never know. Stay tuned.

In other news, we Proffitts are tired but blessed to have a great staff to lead these high schoolers, and we are hopeful that God has and will continue to use us to minister and lead and reveal Jesus to these kids in ways they've never seen or imagined.

I have been leading worship for Apostle, which has been good/interesting. It's been about a year and a half since I've lead worship with just me and my guitar. So in this area, I am stripped as well. It's interesting to see how I've grown and changed since the last time it was just me and my guitar in college. But it's also very scary. I feel very inadequate. "That's just where God wants you" you say...Yes, I know. But that doesn't make it any less scary!

In still other news, it turns out if you want to get ahold of me, it either has to be every other Saturday or at 6:30 in the morning my time. I occasionally can e-mail, like right now I have time, but the Internet is extremely sketchy and annoying. Again, stripped :) On Mondays, Daniel and I have off but we try to take that time to really invest in each other since we're running around all day at camp and not getting to connect like we would like to.

In still other news, Peanut Butter went on the "dessert" list. I found myself eating gobs of PB, in a subconscious (I believe) attempt to compensate for the lack of sugar. But, I don't crave sweets and it's not hard to say no. I also feel TONS better. My body feels better and I feel better in my clothes, which is nice. I know, everyone says "I can't do that. I could never give up dessert"....I was one of those people. But it's not that hard. And I am surrounded by dessert every day. It's like Christmas year-round here at camp. If i can do it, you can too. I know we've only been at it for 3 weeks, but i've NEVER gone 3 weeks in my life without dessert, and I feel confident about continuing!

Okay, I must run. Our kids right now are discovering the 9 Sacred Pathways, which are dispositions towards worship. This is my favorite activity. I could devote a whole blog to it, so maybe I will one day.

Know that even though I'm not talking to you, I love you!

Mrs. Proffitt