Swim, bike, run ….

After running 10 miles through town on Saturday, decided to hit the gym with hubby Sunday afternoon. He wanted to do a swim-bike-run thing. Sooooo not my style. I’m a one-sport chick, to be sure. Not thinking I really ever care to swim much. Yes, I CAN swim. Just don’t enjoy it all that much. Still, the Y has a nice pool. And still, I was thinking I did NOT want to be in a bathing suit yesterday.

On the way to the Y, I was praying that the pool would be too crowded and that we would nix that part of the plan. Pooh. Once in the pool, which wasn’t all that warm, it was real obvious how LONG it had been since I’d really done ANY swimming. How awkward I felt. How terribly uncoordinated I seemed. How “other” sported. Did the breast stroke for a bit … still my favorite stroke. Tried the crawl but realized I was mostly inhaling my hair without a tie back. Tucked it under my goggle strap which didn’t work all that well. Realized that I really, REALLY like being able to breathe whenever my lungs need it … and not be so limited to only when AIR is available. Sigh. Back stroke went pretty well. Oy! Did my shoulders ache later. Managed only about 20 minutes of swimming … and thinking that was really quite plenty, thank you very much!

Changed (which was less simple than even I’d imagined once you figure in showering off, drying off, still not being dry, and trying to stretch on capris and biking/running gear) and headed up to the gym to meet hubby for a bike ride. The bike was pretty much not much of an effort on my part, to be sure. Even with resistence up, I felt as though I could have simply put my head down and slept while still pedalling. Sleep running is more difficult, I think. Went about 11 miles before hubby thought we were done. Butt seemed to have taken the brunt of the activity on the bike … which worked its way out of my system after several laps around the track.

The track was home. I don’t often run on the track, prefering the treadmill if I’m going to be inside at all. We were clocking 9 minute miles (waaaay faster than usual) and running around some little kiddos and their dad trying to pass time. I love running with and around kids; they run because it’s FUN! As it should be for me as well. I try to embrace their heart about movement and play. We ran about 3 miles before deciding we had had ‘just about enough’ and called it a day.

I am MOST DEFINITELY a one-sport . Love them roads. Love them trails. Love adventure, too. And I suppose that’s what made it fun. Sweet hubby may have dreams of doing a triathalon. Me? Probably not. Cross training with a purpose? Yeah, I could go for that.

But I like air.

Abundant Life. Lived Victoriously.

Isaiah 45.24 In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength (strength to achieve AMP).

The achievement is simply the ability to continue.

Only in His Strength am I able to continue.
Only in His Strength can I stand.
Only in His Strength can I do battle.
Only in His Strength can I move forward.

Only in His Strength do I have victory.

Jesus’ heart for me is to have life — ABUNDANT life. His will is that I live victoriously.

~~~~ I am struck this morning by my own very keen desire to RUN WELL. To Run well for the Lord. This thing called life is the Race. The Race of life. Not the rat race or the panicky, worldly attempt to keep pace with the fury and busy-ness of life. But the Race of Life run well for the Lord. THAT Race.

In the book of John (17.15), Jesus prays that we (believers) not be delivered presently FROM this world but that we be protected IN it. I wondered this morning about how much I have been protected from in recent weeks. In the midst of very great difficulties in my life right now — my little world turned upside down and shaken — the very core of my being tossed about — I wonder this morning how I have yet been protected. And I am thankful.

Yes, I want to run well. I want to pursue my running goals with the same fervor that I pursue my Lord and Savior. He pursued me with that same love and with tender care. I am forever grateful for that.

And in the midst of a troubled (life) week, I was moved to still put in some speedwork and hill training with the focus that those workouts, though certainly not my favorite and not particularly cheerfully anticipated, were quite simply tools used to move me forward. Progress is a good thing. Sometimes standing firm is enough; moving forward is the next and first step towards growth. Towards running at all. Towards running well. Towards victorious running.

Getting Started

I’ve been running for about eight years now (started at the prompting that I had more than a few pounds to lose). I consider myself an -onset athlete and absolutely LOVE running! It took me several years of training and running half marathons before I worked up the nerve to enter a full marathon. A half dozen or so of those later, my hubby and I completed our first 50 miler last fall with plans for a 50K and a repeat of the 50 miler this year. Sprinkled throughout will (hopefully, Lord willing) be some other halfs and full marathons along with some 5ks.

All that said, most folk think running 50 miles is pretty well insane. And I’d probably have to agree with them. However, the principle in running 50 miles is pretty much the same as running 5 miles or running a single mile. It all begins with the first step out the door or onto the treadmill with a purpose in mind. The first several minutes are usually not all that comfy. The body’s response of going from inertia to (what? -ertia?) movement. Forward movement.

Forward movement means progress. Progress means growth. It can be slow growth or fast growth. Doesn’t really matter. Growth is growth.

And year after year, that’s what I strive for. Running provides a fun, tangible way for me to do that. Running provides me the forum for learning. Lessons about running, yes. About my body and limitations, yes. Lessons about life, bigger yes.

Training for and running in races — from half marathons to full marathons to ultras — have taught me more about what I CAN do than what I can’t. It has taught me more about ENCOURAGING others than I ever dreamed possible. Running is certainly something we cannot do FOR someone else; we cannot run someone else’s race. We can, however, believe in people and help them believe in their dreams about running … even when they may not be able to believe for themselves. We help them believe (and we help ourselves) by continuing to run.

Them there’s my thoughts on beginning running.

Surprise!

Only about 26 degrees with a breeze this afternoon. Layered up … a lot. Figured that I’d get started outside and then move (quickly) to the treadmill. The sunshine was what seemed to be calling me outside, drawing me out. Since I soooo dislike both being cold and running in the wind, I’m amazed that I even considered this little 5 miler to begin outside.

Surprisingly, oh, so surprisingly, I ran the whole thing outside. In an unusual choice, I hooked up the earphones to worship music to run. The sun simply took hold of me and the wind didn’t get through the “ballistic” double-layer tights and about a four-layer core dressing. Songs that I haven’t listened to for a long time simply resonated in my heart. Worship flowed freely, as did tears, as I ran, seemingly unaware of how cold I ought to be.

For whatever reason, it was a very, very good run today, Lord. Thank you. I needed that.

Getting started, again ….

Another year, another year of running. Last year’s total was an impressive-for-me 1,557 miles. I have never been over 1,500 miles before! Woohoo! It nearly averaged 30 miles per week (29.94 to be exact … and I am only the running numbers geek).

I need to map out so many things … homeschool plans to move Steve along and move Chris towards graduation in May … running and racing plans for the year to move me and Rob towards the Frederick Marathon and beyond … my own Bible study plan, trying to hear the Lord specifically and clearly, and map out my study time with Him ….

Just for today, I’m going to try to spend a bit of time on each to just get started. Oh, I pray Your blessing, Lord!