503 Miles Later
I ran 503 miles in 2018.
Five hundred and three miles.
My husband and I are still walking around amazed that I, Gina, ran over 500 miles.
I’m not a runner. I mean, I guess I am a runner now, but if you’ve ever seen the meme about “I was the kid who faked sick during school to get out of running, but now I’ll pay to run 13.1 miles”, that is me.
Just over a year ago, my friend gathered a group together for a running bootcamp. The challenge of a group workout + working towards longer distance running + a friend running the program was too good to pass up. I signed up, and set my goal as the 10K race. After having run a handful of 5K races, I figured it would be a fun challenge.
And in the midst of my training, battling post-run migraines, and struggling to have proper childcare during my training sessions, I felt certain that the 10K race in January of 2018 would be my last of that distance. It was hard. 5K races are fairly easy, fun, and take little training (for me) to prepare to run. Training for that 10K? It was tough.
But after the 10K race, the joy of running had settled into my bones. I learned what strength I posses. My mental and emotional health improved along with the strength in my quads. The parallels between physical training and spiritual growth started to make sense, and quite honestly, surprised me. Several runs had me feeling “mind-blown”. Saint Paul kept teaching me spiritual truths every time I ran. (It’s like he’s running with me, and the Communion of Saints has never felt more present than when I run). His words about running the race all make so much sense to me now. I’m still unpacking the spiritual wisdom, every day. Every run gets me both nearer and farther from the goal, for every step not only increases my strength, but reminds me just how much I have to learn.
After I finished the 10K, I thought, “Sure, this is good. I’ll keep running. It’s good for me. Maybe I’ll race another 10K…maybe.” And then one day my husband came home with a challenge for the two of us: to run a half marathon on Mother’s Day weekend. hashtag couples’ goals.
Yes, I thought he was completely crazy. Yes, I thought I was completely crazy to say, “ok, I’ll try.” No, we didn’t make that race. Yes, it was disappointing.
Some minor but significant enough injuries had sidelined us both. After about a month of rest, we hit the pavement again, to train for another half marathon.
On August 18, 2018, my hubby and I ran and completed our first ever half marathon race.
Crossing that finish line, realizing that I did it, felt amazing. It was incredible to reach the end, to accomplish something I never dreamed was possible for me. To God be the Glory. It is good. If you’re a runner, you’ll know what I mean. If you’re not, you’ll probably think I’m completely insane. It was a completely exhausting but thrilling experience, showing me how capable my body is, how connected body and soul truly are, how important it is for me to keep going on this journey.
Each mile, even each half mile, brought me closer to God. I grew stronger physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. I prayed. I rejoiced in creation. I ran through wine country. I high-fived bikers as we passed each other on the tough hills. Saint Paul kept running with me, his words about running with endurance and fixing my eyes on Christ never far from my thoughts.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus… ” –Hebrews 12:1-2
I’m not likely to be a fast runner, winning medals every time I get to the finish. That’s not my goal in running. But there is a specific “race” for my life, a certain path that was set for me from all time and that only I can walk/run. So what does it mean, to “run with endurance”? I think it means being my best exactly where I am. So physically speaking, if I have to slow down to walk a bit, I do it, but I keep moving toward the finish. It means I care for my body, so that I am strong enough to run. It means I show up to train and put in the effort required. Spiritually speaking, it means I keep praying, keeping showing up to Mass, keep living my vocation, and keep trusting Christ to the end. Even (and especially) when I don’t feel like it.
Every effort I made to train my body last year, to endure for the half marathon, to be strong enough to run, made a difference. Every step counted. Every day that I showed up for my workout or my run got me to the goal, to the finish line. And in my spiritual journey, I hope for Heaven. It’s perhaps far off in the future, only God knows how many days I have left here. But He also knows that each and every effort I make in this life–every prayer, every sacrifice, every good deed, every attempt to seek and do His will–counts. Not a moment will be lost to Him, when I finish the race.
This morning is January 26, 2019. It’s taken me over a week to attempt to put words to the knowledge my soul has gained. How does one put deep spiritual stirrings into words? Not very easily in my case. I’m just about to leave for my last long run before my next half marathon. More of Saint Paul’s words pop into my head, and I’m certain they’ll be on repeat today and next weekend:
I can do all thing through him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13
And it’s true. I can only run because He’s given me the physical strength, and I can only accomplish all other daily duties because He gives me strength.
AMDG
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