Tuesday & Wednesday runs

Tuesday’s run was on the treadmill … still majorly blustery here in the mid-Atlantic. Ran 4 miles, not pushing it.

Wednesday’s run was supposed to be after I dropped a kid off to the community college … but roads were beyond treacherous and I was an internal mess after getting there. Decided that it was not worth risking slipping on the new fallen snow to run and that I’d run later at home on the driveway where at least I’ve got some gravel for traction. However, after the equally frustrating drive home, sliding up and down hills, decided my internal stress needed relieved faster than any other compelling need. So I hit the treadmill again for 5 miles. Actually, I took some reading down, some preparatory reading from Esther, and pondered how to take up this next subject in the ladies Bible study in January. It provided some good food for thought while my body worked up the sweat to rid myself of internal frustrations.

I had also gotten a text from a friend who’s daughter needed some major prayer. That, too, was profitable running and prayer time.

Running down the road …

… is MY idea of having fun!

Running in His Strength

The Interval Training of Life

Sigh. Things have been tough for several days at our house. Saturday’s (long slow distance) wasn’t as long as I had planned or hoped. We decided to run up at Gambrill State Park on a trail, but hubby’s feet began bothering him early and we hit the road as soon as we could find one. The total mileage should have been 8 but ended up a 3.5 mile run. Oh, well. I need to remember that I said I’d be happy running anything.

Today, mostly out of frustration with the intervals of life right now, I ran some SPD work on the treadmill. It is crazily blustery out today with wind gusts up to 40 mph so outside running wasn’t going to happen. I spent 5 miles calculating half-mile segments at various speeds in preparation for some YASSO training to prepare for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in early April and for the Frederick Marathon in early May. The mind diversion from my woes of the day was a good thing. The woes are still here but I’m sure the run did me good.

In my QT (quiet time) this morning, the Lord was trying to show me something … something about the hyper-focusing necessary to do fast YASSOs. It’s not JUST focusing. It’s hyper-focusing. Running fast half-mile repeats demands a huge amount of concentration. I can remember using several different tricks to get through the 4 1/2 minutes or so: counting red dots on the T console, counting footfalls per minute, reviewing Scripture, going through prayer lists, focusing on the fact that there is only minute left … anything to get through the relatively short but fast effort.

The Lord, I think, was trying to show me that in these emotionally charged and challenging times with kids and a very sick dog, I need to hyperfocus. That ability to hyperfocus on the duration (hopefully short) of the interval or even how each footfall takes me closer to the end of the interval can be what gets me through it.

The flip side of INT running is that the strength or growth actually takes place during the RECOVERY running … not the fast running portion. Intellectually, I can get my brain wrapped around that; it DOES make sense. However, from the standpoint of the life Training aspect of it, I’m still trying to find my way. In these emotional hours and days, it only takes a minute of thinking to get my heart stirred up. The ringing phone could be a vet’s call. Flash’s whine, even if it’s just to change position, can restart energy expenditure. And with two teens, there is ALWAYS some issue coming up, frequently accompanied by drama.

So finding the recovery INT in my day seems like grasping oil. Maybe it’s less like not having the emotions stirred as it is more like reflecting on the emotions wrought. Hmm. Will have to think that through some more.

Running and walking

Yesterday I ran 4 miles at lunchtime, trying to squeeze it in before the afternoon ‘parade of adventures’ began. It was a good thing I did, too. The afternoon “quick” doctor’s visit with my son turned into a small surgical procedure in the office lasting a couple of hours. Picking up prescriptions for a sick dog as well as for my son tied up pretty much all the rest of the afternoon before heading to the next state (not really that far) for youth group with both guys. Home late and tired. Still very happy to have run at lunch … always a good day when I’ve run.

Today I just did 2 miles on the treadmill while catching up on some reading. That is the one really, really nice thing about walking the T. Hubby and I are planning to run 8 tomorrow, probably as the boys are helping out at church in the afternoon. Don’t know whether we’ll hit the trail someplace — which would be our first trail run after the JFK 50 — or whether we’ll hit some country hills or in town. I’m happy to run wherever hubby wants to. Got some new toe socks that I’m anxious to try out on a (long slow distance).

Finished up the Daniel/Beth Moore study last night, too. I really enjoy her stuff. She just so DIGS into the Word and just simply inspires me to do the same. Oh, that I would be able to get my little ol’ act together and organize my time better to do the mining I’d love to do! Lord, help me with this! Thinking I’m needing more discipline and more training in this area, for sure.

Theme for Running 2007: Running in His Strength

The Lord has graciously given me themes these last several years that incredibly cross between my running life and my spiritual life. Last year’s was Recovering Well to Run Well. This year’s, stumbled upon in January, has been Running in His Strength. What does that mean? What does that mean in running and, more importantly, what does it mean for LIFE?

Now, about 1,400 miles later — and let’s see, a relay race, two half marathons, two marathons, and my very first ultra of 50 miles later — the Lord continues to impress on my heart the lesson he started so many months ago. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think He’s done teaching me about recovery or about running in His strength and not my own. But this is where I am today:

Running in His Strength is …
Fixing my eyes on Him
SO THAT
I don’t lose heart
BUT
move forward encouraged and victorious
SO THAT
He may be glorified in how I run.