Bountiful Health & Wellness

In 2010, I ran a half-marathon (13.1 miles) and a full marathon (26.2 miles) and it has now become my favorite! The virtual medal above, is from this past week

 I’ve focused on more shorter races since 2010 but as long as I keep training, I’ll always be prepared to increase!

One of the things I quickly realized, after I completed the full marathon, was that during the course of the 9-month training, I pushed myself past all the body aches, pains, mental fatigue, the “I don’t feel like it”, the “why did I sign up for this?!

” and everything else that came up along the way!

We trained (long mileage runs) as a group on Saturdays but it was what we did during the week, that made the difference. The workouts, the short runs, nutrition and mental fortitude reminders was what would determine how much we “felt it” on Saturdays and how much stronger we became.

We all had our reasons for running. For me, I wanted to know that I could do it. Up to that point, I hadn’t really “challenged” myself outside of schooling. It had nothing to do with anyone else. Somewhere along the way, a “13-minute mile” stuck with me and that’s what my goal was, even now.

The lesson I get now, from all of this, is that when I hit tough times, I know that I have more within me than I realize to complete the goal. In February, I shared with my Wellness Reimagined crew that whatever God tells us to do today, is always preparation for something in the future. It’s rarely ever just about right now. What we “plant” today will be the harvest of what we eat from tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, etc. (in whatever area of life).

What are you fighting today that seems tough? That thing that you don’t “see” how it’s going to benefit or make a difference but you know you can’t let it go? I can tell you that if I didn’t do what I needed to do during the week, those Saturday longs runs (at least 10+ miles) would have been brutal because I did NOT properly prepare myself daily, during the week. As I gained strength (physically, mentally and nutritional) it became easier.

This is definitely another example of “walking by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7); of leaning not to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6); of not forsaking (abandoning) the reward (Proverbs 6:6-11).

What do you need to pick back up today? Defeat the “Goliath” of that situation because there is victory on the other side!