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The days are getting shorter and it’s a race to get some activity
in before the sun sets. Jogging gives you a work out in a short period of
time. I have to admit that I hate to run
and I would do anything to avoid any
type of running. I would joke that I would be the first one in a group to be eaten by a bear
because I am so slow.
I never thought that I would even attempt to run at my age, especially because I need to save my
knees for skiing. However, I was inspired by my college friend who finished the
Boston half marathon. She also hated to run and her efforts fueled a competitive nerve that I did not think I even
had. I thought that if my friend can master a marathon than I can at least try to run a 5k. Conquering a weakness is a
quality of a being self- actualized or reaching
your personal best, so I started to jog.
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| College Friend finished the 1/2 Marathon |
Reflection
This time of year we get a few warm “Indian Summer” days.
There is only about one (1) hour after work of daylight. You have to make it
count. The good thing about running is that it takes no
preparation. You just go out the door.
Starting, I could only run a few yards. I could not even run five(5) minutes before I had to walk. I kept thinking, “where is that ‘runner’s high’ people talk
about? ” My legs hurt, my breath was
labored, my insides screamed- just stop! However, I kept pushing and visualizing my goal for that day. Sometimes I even thought
about how good I might look in a bikini or how many more calories I was burning running vs walking.
Every night I tried to do a little more running and less walking. It was so painful but
like the Energizer Bunny, I kept moving. Then bingo, one night I ran the whole
little neighborhood path that I had mapped out for myself. Then I
did it twice, then three times, then four. One night, the neighbors counted as
I passed 5 times! I wondered, “ how far did I go?” I drove it and discovered that once round the path was .5 mile. I realized that I ran over 2 miles!
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| My running path, once around is .5 mile |
I am still pushing forward. I am not fast or graceful. While running I enjoy the sunset and sometimes
in the morning, the sun rise. It’s still hard to push those legs forward but
even if I am taking baby steps I am still moving toward a goal. My legs are feeling tighter, and my breathing is getting slower, and I am getting stronger.
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| Sunset at the end of a run |
I can not believe
that I am saying this, but I LOOK FORWARD
TO RUNNING. Once you push yourself past the painstaking beginning
hell, it’s a way to evaporate the days frustrations. I may not ever make it to a ½ marathon but it feels so good to run and move toward my goal.
Spiritual Reflection
And let us run with endurance the race that God has set
before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. (Hebrews 12:1-2)