On your Mark, Get Set, Go!!

This week I found myself pounding the pavement at yet another training run in preparation for this weekends upcoming race.  After 4 months of training I will be stepping to the starting line of my first race in 16 years. It's hard to believe that I've been gone from running that long.

You see, back in High School I was an avid runner, sometimes running 8-9 months out of the year between cross-country, track, and summer training runs.  By the time I reached my senior year of High School I had been running for roughly 6 years, competing in high school track and cross-country meets on a regular basis.  As my senior year came to an end I found myself plagued with some minor injuries and an increasing dislike for competition.  Today, as I look back, I realize that what I was battling was a bad case of burnout.  Not so much physical burnout as much as mental burnout.  I was just plain tired! I had entertained thoughts of running in college and had even been approached by a university about running for them.  However, my heart and passion for running just wasn't there anymore and I had a hard time knowing what to do.  I knew I was going to have to make a decision soon. The day of my High School graduation finally dawned bright and clear.  After 12 years I was finished with school and it was at that moment I decided I was going to take a break from running; no more drills and long runs, hill repeats and sprint workouts. The decision felt good and brought a lot of relief.  

Originally I had only planned to take a break for about a year, certain that a year would be enough time and by then I would be ready to get back to active running.  However, despite my best intentions, the first year came and went, as did the second and third year.  The years following high school stayed busy with college, falling in love, getting married and having children.  By the time I turned 26, my husband and I had four daughters and life was filled with keeping up with babies and toddlers. However, always in the back of my mind was this desire to start running again, remembering those well meaning intentions made years ago to stay in shape and keep running .  But then, the one thing I didn't expect to go wrong did! My health!

Soon after our youngest daughter was born I began to struggle with several health issues.  Over the course of the next 6 years I would go through 4 different surgeries and wage an ongoing battle with adrenal fatigue.  It became one of the most difficult times in my life as I struggled to come to terms with the physical limitations of my life.  I was often discouraged and wondered many times if I would ever get back running again and yet I prayed for that day frequently.  

Finally in this last year God has begun answering that very prayer.  This summer I began running with a local group in my community, training for an upcoming charity 4 mile run in September.  The first weeks were difficult as I worked hard to rebuild the strength in my body and the endurance to run the miles.  Often I came home sore and walking stiffly.  Slowly though, I have gotten to where I can run several miles non-stop. Not fast but gradually the endurance is returning for the longer miles.  

Now, just a few short days before the race I find myself again pounding out miles on the pavement.  On this particular day, as I headed into the last part of the run, I began to reflect back on the journey God has had me on during my 16 year hiatus from running. Life had sure turned out different then what I had expected at age 18, newly graduated from High School and headed into an unknown world.  It has held some wonderful surprises and yet difficult disappointments, held its share of victories and plenty of defeats. Yet looking back there isn't much I would change.  Each surprise, disappointment, victory and defeat holds its own lesson, its own growing pains.  My life journey is not unlike my faith journey these last few years. It too has had to grow and change and be stretched.  As I run I think about the verse in the Bible that says:

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

More than anything I want to run with endurance the race of faith that God has set before me.  However, I know that to do that I have to work hard and "train" my spiritual body and keep it under check.   It takes hard work, showing up to practice and discipling yourself in order to run a race well.  In the same way it takes work to be in relationship with your Heavenly Father.  "Showing up" to spend time with Him and allowing Him to stretch and grow you.  I promise that as you do that, He will meet you, loving and coaching you on in your "race of faith".  

So...Where are you in your "race" of faith?  Are you steadily moving along, running with endurance?

Or..have you gotten sidetracked with injuries and wounds of the past or present? Not sure if you want to continue the race?

Let me encourage you that no matter where you are...it's never to late to get back in the race... 

May we all be able to say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." 

Finally, I encourage you to find someone that can come along side of you to support and encourage you in your journey of faith.  I know for me, when I run, I do so much better when I have someone else running with me, to lend encouragement and support and give me a good kick when I need it.  To remind me that this "mile" will not go on forever and that the finish line is up ahead!

Praying you will be encouraged today!

Journeying with a Purpose,

~Victoria