Running in itself isn't just one foot in front of the other, or some mindless sport. Running is like a waffle, it has many different compartments. Each little square of it makes up a delicious treat.
Running brings out the best in me and the worst in me.
But all in all, with God by my side, running along with me (when I invite him of course), God is using my running to change, shape and challenge me. I never would have dreamed in a million years that I would be doing what I do today. I read in a book once that when you take your first few steps as a runner, you really have no idea how historical those first steps really are until you have traveled some distance and look back at where you started.Running for me can be defined as an outlet for many things. I run off steam if I'm stressed or upset. Or if I need some quiet time to just let my mind wander around and process my day, my feet will just go into auto pilot and my mind is able to destress. Sometimes I run with good intentions and sometimes not.
As I get better and a bit faster, I am facing the challenge of the competitive nature that I didn't know I had! All of a sudden, I'm racing myself, to beat myself from the last run. I find myself more and more pushing the limits to see if I can go farther and go faster. The burn in my lungs that I get after a sprint has become a feeling that I love. Or the burn in my legs. I have to admit that the first time I finished my 5 km goal, I didn't even care that much. I was already thinking about the next course I wanted to conquer! Human nature is so typical. The sinful part of us wants to live apart from God and be it's own god... the age old challenge....for me, it's a new challenge, only in a very different form that I'm not use to. I guess that's the way it goes no matter what journey God has you on. It's always a matter of making Him Lord over what you do.
I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that He called me to be a runner. He placed this desire in me since I was a little girl. My one reoccuring dream that I used to have (and still do) is...me running endlessly....running without getting tired....without fainting..... Whenever we sing any song that refers to Isaiah 41 about those that wait on the Lord will run for miles and never get tired......MY SPIRIT wants to BURST!!!!! This is such a passion God has placed in me.
One of my dear mentors and spiritual mothers talked with me the other night. I told her, "I am such a different person, I don't even reconize myself!" She encouraged me and told me that God was going to use ALL OF IT. That through running, God will use the challenges to mold me on the potters wheel.....and that is my prayer.
So I run on. step after step. My running is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It's about facing your giants, about running through pain, running through fear, learning to NOT run on your own strength, trusting God to provide the strength. It's about fighting the ugly pride that comes out when you do well, and about giving God the glory and thanks. And being open to allowing Him to use it all.
I am truly blessed and thankful that God has given me the strength to follow my dreams of becoming a runner. I know that these beginner miles are the first of many more to come......
13 comments:
Awesome post, you are amazing! How do you do it? My back gets so sour from running. You mention pain and you're most likely not talking about physical pain, don't you have any??
oh yes! Shin splints were a beginner problem. My ankle sometimes gets gimped. and I think my biggest problem which isn't all the time, is my knee. I have to really watch my knee, it can get pretty sore.
I have been doing alot of reading since last year and everything I read said that strength training would help prevent injury. It is true. most injuries are caused by weak muscles not supporting the surrounding joints and ligaments properly.
Core training, such as abs, planks, ball work and the like are essential for running or for anyone for that matter. you core is what supports your back, spine and really it's called your core for obvious reasons.
When I was 50 pounds overweight, I did have alot of back pain. And the more kids you have and the older you are makes it so important for us moms, wives and women to get physically strong. As I lost my weight, so many of my aches and pains just went away. It was amazing. My feet didn't ache at the end of each day, my back didn't throb....
When I first started running a year ago, it was very very painful! My legs felt like huge weights the next day, I was so stiff. My lungs and heart got so tired, they would set on fire! It was very uncomfortable. But each run got alittle bit easier. I started running 2 lamp posts. Then it took me a whole month or more to run 12! It is a slow process.
If you are interested in running, I would suggest getting a stability ball and a video showing you some basic moves to help strengthen your core, especially if you have back pain....
let me know how it goes, or what you decide!
Man I miss running but with my shin splints and horrible right knee the thought if it again puts me in pain. Though I do hope to find a soft track or something when I move to BC so I can start up again though I'll have to start slowly. Did you read a lot of books when you started? What type of ball video do you recommend?
Just to add,
I too have struggled with bad shin splints through this whole journey, as well as bad back problems (back from pregnany with my first born). Near the beginning of the running journey, I actually threw my back right out! Could'nt move, had to lay down and pop T-3's. Especially doing core and ab training, my back would get really really sore. I would have to put a pillow under my lower back as I did crunches to lessen the weight on my tailbone (which actually helped a lot, I would highly recommend this). But slowly but surely.....the pain started to get better and better. As sarah said, it's taken a long time. I no longer have big problems with my back, although if I'm doing something like sitting on a slopped hill, with all my weight on my backbone, I will get sore. But as far as from running and excersizing, no pain! I can do crunches and everything without pillows now! Which is awesome! I still get shin splints, and I'm trying to work my calves to help that problem. (I've read that shin splints can be caused by weak calf muscles)
I guess my point is, running is painful. LOL.
But the more you press in and press through, and as Sarah said, work your "other" muscles, it gets better.
Good post Sarah! I like that line at the beginning about not knowing how HISTORICAL those first few steps would be, but how true!
Sometimes I think of our "old" route, through shea and that weird darkened cat walk, then back through shea......
Remember that one time, I had McDonalds for supper that night, and ate like a big yucky cow, and you pulled me out anyway, and I made it half way down the first part of Shea and started limping and grabbing my stomach? LOL. you had to walk me back home, and I was like, I'm such a loser.... and You're like, no you're not!
HAHA. Sigh.......
Love ya
Yeah, that was funny....you had a filet o fish with tarter sauce all over your fries too! And didn't you drink a "real coke" too??
You body was like, "AAAAAAAHHHHH, what the flip man!" you walked home hunched over
Yeah, that catwalk was freaky. Even that is an example of how God changes the course!
I remember us not being able to talk to eachother at all! We'd just look at eachother's red faces huffing and puffing, then by the time we walked all the way home, we started talking.
This was a great post!!! I have been so encouraged by you and your running....I've attempted it a few times but I couldn't walk the next day (quite literally) my knees were so sore...BUT, I'm not going to be discouraged..I feel I can do it too...but I'm starting with speedwalking, and I'm lovin' it!! I become addicted to that "pain" of stretching yourself a little past your limit each time too..it's a good pain!!! Your such a blessing to me Sarah, you really have no idea!!! Core training, too...Love IT...I use my ball so much, and actually even own the Core Workout vids....Maybe once I do those more I will be in better shape for running..
PS....cute video :))
Sarah and Nin...thanks for your reply, hints and tips. I have the ball, veds and just the music would be missing, but I can leave that for when I'm realy serious.
I'd also like to know how much time I would need to invest, do you run everyday and for about how long?
I just love you gals.
I LOVE it when people ask questions like this!!!
Nel, love you too!!!
The thing about getting started is you have to do what works for you. Find a time of day that is a good time to stay consistent then stick with that. It's not a good idea to run everyday. You body needs one day in between to build new tissue and recover. You actually don't get better when you run, you actually get better when you rest. So resting is very important. If you run too much (day after day, especially as a beginner runner) your body breaks down, instead of builds up. There are many professional runners that run everyday, but they have laid a good foundation and they're bodies are trained for that.
I have picked 2 times that work for me. As soon as Joe gets home from work (or shortly after) Around 5 pm. In the hot summer months, I have been going around 8 now. I would like to try to be a morning runner (cuase that's the best way to burn your OWN fat instead of the calories you've been eating all day) But morning just hasn't worked. I'd have to be out the door at like 7 or earlier!! AAAAHHH
What nin and I did was we committed to every second day. That was one week 3x then the next week was 4x. We rarely missed a day, unless one was sick, then the other one ran anyway. We started very small, running only 2 lamp posts. Then 4 then 6 then 12. I've heard it suggested that increasing your time by 10 or 15 seconds could work(but we didn't want to fumble with stop watches)
As your cardiovascular fitness increases, you will notice almost an immediate change. Each time should be a little better. You will notice that your recovery will be shorter. (after you run and your all out of breath, it will take you less time to recover from that)
Sometimes, you will even run and it will be WAY WORSE than the last time! That's okay, that's part of your body's way of building that foundation. You have to learn to listen to your own body. Some people are running 5 or 10 k in 3 to 6 months! it took me a year to run 5k...It all depends on what kind of foundation you have already, how much time you have to invest and how hard to sow into your workouts.
As time goes by, you will notice that in order to get over some running plateaus (where you just aren't able to run any longer or farther) you will have to start strength training.
So now nin and I are used to this in our lives, so to add a bit more isn't that big a deal. I think at first, we weren't ready for both.
So now we run one day then strength train the next. We take sunday's off to rest. We will do abs, squats, planks, push ups, ball work, lunges..... It's been really fun the last bit getting into some of the strecthes and exersises we've found.
I hope this helps. I love helping people find a plan and helping them sticking to it. I feel like I'm still a beginner, I don't want to come across as this expert that "knows everything" It's my heart to see people take care of thier temples and look after the physical side of themselves. I think as christians we can forget that, but God DID make us flesh!
I told my cousin the other day that smoking will kill him and he said that the bible says that his days are numbered so it doesn't matter if he smokes......not realizing that his days are shortening each time he choses to inhale poison!
If you have any other questions...I'd love to help! Blessings Nel and may God guide you in your journey. I believe He stirs up that desire to get fit...cause He knows how important it is!!!
Ps a really good resource for healthy eating (that really helped me) was Body For Life. It gave me a good picture to match the fuel to the working out. See if you can get the book (it's kinda a "let's get all buffed" kinda book. I just took what helped and left the rest)
I also highly recommend "never say diet" by Chantel Hobbs. She is a christian that lost 200 pounds!!! Her story is very inspiring and I got lots of tips and motivation from her!
wow great to get updated..thats so awsome what you guys are doing...im a firm believer in any kind of fitness!! i have been committed to going to the gym every morning now for 2 years..of course i have missed some or over the course of 2 years ALOT..but once you set that routine in your life its like you can never part from it...what a cool thing. However now that im pregnant running just isnt possible BUT you have really encouraged me to start and i plan on it as soon as i can after baby is born. Right now i do what i can being 22weeks. I think i have gained something like 6 pounds from the start? so im trying SOOOOO hard and its not easy when i feel hungry ALL the time...im so glad i came by your blog you just gave me that motivation i needed for this week...so i cant run but on top of going to the gym i want to 'speed walk' some of these eveings. I to have always wanted to run a 5k or even 10 k...i believe i will!!!! GOOD JOB GIRLS!!! i look forward to reading more about this!!!
I think it's SO neat how SO many people have a desire inside them to run.
It's totally like that verse Isaiah 40:31 "they will run and not grow weary"
And this one too!
Psalm 119:32 "I RUN in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."
I don't want to be like, running is the best or anything, as Kim said, ANY form of fitness excersize is where it's at, but there must be SOMETHING about this running business!
Cool.
Sarah, I've been reading some super cool running things in these mags. Can't wait to try them with you.
ME TOO (about the mags)!
It IS totally cool that there are so many out there that somewhere deep inside them is a desire to run....Makes me want to dig into the Word more and see where God takes me...
Post a Comment