Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

running

The body working together

Week 8, Day 1. I can count on one hand the number of training runs we have left before our 5K, and that astounds me. Today we ran 2.75 miles for the first time, and all that stands between us and a 5K is half a mile. Wow, again.

We clocked ourselves at about 33 minutes and 48 seconds, meaning we might make our goal of running the 5K in less than 40 minutes. Each outing seems to be an improvement over the last, which may be the most encouraging part of this whole program — progress.

Our legs were heavy today. Yesterday we visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (I’m planning to post separately about that trip.), so we walked and walked and walked some more. Also, we caffeinated ourselves more than usual to make the 2 and a half hour trip home. We were tired, and I worried that today’s run would be a killer.

In some ways, yes. I’m realizing that my body goes into autopilot for the first mile. We seem able to knock that out pretty quickly. Today was no different. The second mile and beyond, I had to keep talking to my legs to make them run. I wanted to walk. So did Phil. His calf tightened up and we were pretty close to calling it after the second mile. I don’t know what mental tricks he has to pull to keep going, but I have to work through all we’ve accomplished. I have to concentrate on my legs. I have to remember that my lungs feel great, and I lost that 2 pounds this week that I’d gained over the last two weeks.

Thank God my body is not all legs or I wouldn’t still be on this running journey.

Thank God, as well, that the body of Christ is not made up of all one kind of people. We need each other to tell us to keep going when we want to quit. To take the journey with us. To give us the strength and stamina we need to complete the task ahead. And we need to stay connected to the head, that is, Christ, who speaks truth into our lives when we want to believe differently.

The whole body works together. Amen and amen.

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.