All week I've been limping. And for good reason. I freakin' ran a marathon last weekend. Never thought I would!
All week I've received the same similar questions: "how was the run?" At first take, I have to think about it for a minute. I know that they are referring to the Eau Claire Marathon from the past weekend, but for me, categorizing my experience on Sunday as a "run" does not give it justice. It was a hard fight, it was lonely, it was the most pain my legs have ever been in. But it was also beyond satisfying, empowering, and extremely humbling. There's something about running on the lonely highway portion of the Marathon at 10am on a Sunday morning, no runners around, baking in your own sweat, with legs spasming, realizing that you have over 10 miles to go until the end. That is when it became real to me. I had reached my limit. That is what runners always talk about concerning "hitting the wall."
and yet, there is no amazing story of how I overcame miles 17-21. there is no amazing break-through that I had. minutes get very long when you have nothing (or perhaps just Clif-Bloks Gels and Water) in your tank. For parts of a few miles I walked. and for those miles 17-21, I hated it. I was frustrated that I had hit my limit. I could not wait to get to Mile 22. I could not wait for the Blugold Mile, a place I knew I had support and friends ready to cheer me through a mile of campus. at that point of the race, my speed was completely based on how many people were cheering me on. that makes it difficult when you wind through stretches of neighborhood where spectators casually wave you on.
In one way or another, miles 17-21 were a blur. I suffered through it, as (most) all Marathoners do. My mind and motivation were focused at the end of the race. I wanted/needed to save something for the end. I needed it to be worth it.
And it was. I can't fully explain the satisfaction that it brings to cross a finish line with confidence, especially after a full 26.2 miles. Those last .2 were hard. But I kept having to remind myself that this is what I was training for. I was in it to finish. and I did.
There aren't many experiences that I've gone through that have left me with a greater completion than last Sunday. I felt so incredibly blessed by all of my family and dear friends that were present to cheer me and others on. What a way to finish, in the presence of so many people that you love. I wonder if that's what it will be like to arrive before Jesus in the New Kingdom.
This week I've been thinking about what I've learned from the Marathon, and I do not feel like I have a full grasp on it. In some ways, I feel like the Marathon ran me. I've been super surprised by the ways that I've felt emotionally wrecked after the race. This in some ways, has been the pinnacle that I have been looking forward to all semester; what I have literally been training for and anticipating. What to do when it is all over? One thing that I do know is that I am already pumped to run another (half) marathon. Someday. Soon.
I've been super grateful for the journey that running has given me this semester. With confidence, I can say that anyone can become a runner. I wasn't really dedicated to running until January. That was only 5 months ago. However, what seems to be a reoccurring theme for my life is the way that I feel extremely blessed within a community that is going forward in the same goal. It has been spectacular running with Adam, Sean, Luke and Cole week in and week out, learning about the world of running, sharing tips, sharing life and physical hardship when out on long runs together. It's a good thing, let me tell ya.
Above all, I am thankful to the LORD God Almighty for the ways that He has blessed me with a physical body that can do such tasks. Even when I nearly "abuse" it through craziness such as marathons. But He is good. And He has reminded me that He is bigger than my body, bigger than my shin splints, bigger than the fact if I finish or not. He will always be bigger than the next-best time, or the next big race.
All of this has made me weary. It has made me aware of my limitations in light of my Creator. Yet limping can lend a good reminder. A victorious limp.
All week I've received the same similar questions: "how was the run?" At first take, I have to think about it for a minute. I know that they are referring to the Eau Claire Marathon from the past weekend, but for me, categorizing my experience on Sunday as a "run" does not give it justice. It was a hard fight, it was lonely, it was the most pain my legs have ever been in. But it was also beyond satisfying, empowering, and extremely humbling. There's something about running on the lonely highway portion of the Marathon at 10am on a Sunday morning, no runners around, baking in your own sweat, with legs spasming, realizing that you have over 10 miles to go until the end. That is when it became real to me. I had reached my limit. That is what runners always talk about concerning "hitting the wall."
and yet, there is no amazing story of how I overcame miles 17-21. there is no amazing break-through that I had. minutes get very long when you have nothing (or perhaps just Clif-Bloks Gels and Water) in your tank. For parts of a few miles I walked. and for those miles 17-21, I hated it. I was frustrated that I had hit my limit. I could not wait to get to Mile 22. I could not wait for the Blugold Mile, a place I knew I had support and friends ready to cheer me through a mile of campus. at that point of the race, my speed was completely based on how many people were cheering me on. that makes it difficult when you wind through stretches of neighborhood where spectators casually wave you on.
In one way or another, miles 17-21 were a blur. I suffered through it, as (most) all Marathoners do. My mind and motivation were focused at the end of the race. I wanted/needed to save something for the end. I needed it to be worth it.
And it was. I can't fully explain the satisfaction that it brings to cross a finish line with confidence, especially after a full 26.2 miles. Those last .2 were hard. But I kept having to remind myself that this is what I was training for. I was in it to finish. and I did.
There aren't many experiences that I've gone through that have left me with a greater completion than last Sunday. I felt so incredibly blessed by all of my family and dear friends that were present to cheer me and others on. What a way to finish, in the presence of so many people that you love. I wonder if that's what it will be like to arrive before Jesus in the New Kingdom.
This week I've been thinking about what I've learned from the Marathon, and I do not feel like I have a full grasp on it. In some ways, I feel like the Marathon ran me. I've been super surprised by the ways that I've felt emotionally wrecked after the race. This in some ways, has been the pinnacle that I have been looking forward to all semester; what I have literally been training for and anticipating. What to do when it is all over? One thing that I do know is that I am already pumped to run another (half) marathon. Someday. Soon.
I've been super grateful for the journey that running has given me this semester. With confidence, I can say that anyone can become a runner. I wasn't really dedicated to running until January. That was only 5 months ago. However, what seems to be a reoccurring theme for my life is the way that I feel extremely blessed within a community that is going forward in the same goal. It has been spectacular running with Adam, Sean, Luke and Cole week in and week out, learning about the world of running, sharing tips, sharing life and physical hardship when out on long runs together. It's a good thing, let me tell ya.
Above all, I am thankful to the LORD God Almighty for the ways that He has blessed me with a physical body that can do such tasks. Even when I nearly "abuse" it through craziness such as marathons. But He is good. And He has reminded me that He is bigger than my body, bigger than my shin splints, bigger than the fact if I finish or not. He will always be bigger than the next-best time, or the next big race.
All of this has made me weary. It has made me aware of my limitations in light of my Creator. Yet limping can lend a good reminder. A victorious limp.