Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Our first 5K

Put down the ice cream and no one gets hurt

Week 7, Day 3. We are now just two weeks from the end of the Couch to 5K plan, a little more than two weeks from our 5K. Where has the time gone? And how is it possible that we’ve now run 2.5 miles three times in the last week and have lived to tell about it?

When we started this journey, I wasn’t sure where it would take us. I couldn’t envision being at this point, running more than 2 miles, being able to do it AND enjoying it. I couldn’t imagine it because the steps to get here have been many, gradual and at times, difficult. Running 2.5 miles still isn’t easy, but it’s not daunting like it used to be. Today we ran the same route as last Thursday, when we ran 2.25 miles. Today’s time: a shade over 31 minutes, down 2 minutes from last week’s run on this route. It was rainy and cold. I had a pain in my shin, I think from swimming with the kids yesterday, but it didn’t affect my running.

I’m noticing that I find a burst of energy when I can see the finish point. Sometimes I start the route slow so I know I’ll be able to finish strong and well.

Perhaps if I adopted the same attitude toward life’s trials, I would not find them as overwhelming either. Maybe I won’t be able to see the end, but if I could live with the attitude that an end is coming, that whatever it is I’m facing won’t go on forever, then maybe I could keep working hard to finish well.

I’ll weigh in again on Saturday, but I’m not expecting much improvement. It’s been an off week, emotionally and eating-wise. We’ve had two meals out already this week (parents in town … date night) and will have another tomorrow after seeing the Statue of Liberty, plus there’s a lot of chocolate in the house thanks to Halloween.

My husband is still rationing the ice cream, though. He scoops. I give him the, “Is that all?” look and he reminds me that our goals are more important than a dish of ice cream.

Sigh. He’s right. And I know it. Self-control is still a discipline I’m learning.

Going the extra mile

Week 7, Day 2. Another 2.5 miles today. Different route. No stroller (grandparents, yay!). An unbelieveable, for us, time. 27:38 — 6 minutes faster than our first 2.5 miles and nearly the same time as our first 2 miles. No wonder I thought I was dying. OK, so maybe it wasn’t that bad, but it certainly didn’t come easy. As I was running, I thought about Jesus’ words about going the extra mile. A friend told me the first mile is the hardest, and I find that true sometimes, but these last couple of runs, I’ve found the second mile more difficult. Like, after the first mile, I feel like I’ve already accomplished enough but, wait, I still have another mile to go. Maybe that’s why Jesus said if someone wants you to go one mile, go another mile after that. I fairly often take the easy way when it comes to helping people or serving, so these 2.5 mile runs are challenging me in other areas of life to keep going until the work is finished, not just until I feel like I’ve done enough or until I get tired. I had to talk my feet into continuing to run today. Sometimes I have to talk my soul into caring or my hands into helping.

In other news, we’re officially signed up for the Annual Give Thanks for Lebanon 5K on Nov. 20. Eek! They have our money. No turning back now.

On Thursday we return to the route we ran a week earlier for 2.25 miles, so we’ll see if the time is accurate. Even though it’s not really about the time, it’s fun to see progression.