What I've Learned from Training for a Marathon

I know those of you (all two of you) who follow my blog have just been dying for another post so here it is- Only about three months later!

I have been training for what seems like a lifetime for the Chicago Marathon. Now that I am only one month away I was thinking about what God has been teaching me during this long long training period and just wanted to get it written so I could share it with the kids someday.

Physically-

I cannot believe that God took a person who had never been involved in any sports, and turned her into a real athlete! I actually finished running 20 miles a couple of weeks ago and just wanted to cry because I never believed that it could be me who was able to accomplish something so amazing. I think God has taught me that discipline is the key to turning a body into a machine that can endure even when I thought it couldn't. It was all the mornings of getting up before dawn and going to bed early that got me this far. I am so amazed at the human body and what all it can endure and am addicted to the high of running even though it was so incredibly painful sometimes. I also discovered I have asthma during this long training period- Who knew???

Mentally-

• I learned how to talk myself into pushing further and further even when my body was telling me to quit. I am extremely competitive so this part was not really hard.


• I learned to take the time to look around me for once- I know God used running to quiet my mind and soul to see things that he had created. There was so many cool things along the way that were part of living out in the country, but I had never noticed them before. I passed by everything from deer, cows, horses and frogs and of course dogs. I had so many encounters with dogs that were funny I cannot even begin to list them all but one that was the best was the day that a blue heeler ran behind me for at least 5 miles and nipped at my heels everytime I slowed down. I guess I looked or smelled like a cow. I saw this amazing enormous hawk that sat on a telephone wire every morning and would just watch me as I passed. It has been really beautiful just seeing what God has created and appreciating it as I pass by rolling farmland every morning as the sun rises. God is truly amazing!

Spiritually-

In a nutshell I think God used running as the time that He could finally speak to me and I would listen. I truly think that my life was going in so many directions at such a fast pace that he just wanted a chance for my spirit to be quiet so he could whisper and I would hear.

I know that in the hours that I run God convicts me of sin daily. He lets me know that my insecurities and paranoia are not from him but from the enemy and that when the world lets me down I need to depend on Him only.

He has called me to bigger things in my life and I have heard the call while I was running. I was listening to a sermon on my ipod one day and I knew after, that God was calling me into a ministry for exotic dancers here in my city. It was nothing I ever thought I would want to do but it was clear as anything that God was telling me to be obedient and do it. So here I am in the beginning of this ministry with 10 other women and God is blessing that obedience.

I have also had some of the most amazing worship experiences during my runs. I listen to a mixture of music but I have worship stuff in my mix and sometimes a song has struck me so deeply that I literally wanted to raise my hands while running. Those who know me know I am not normally a hand raisin' kind of gal so I have really been moved by the Holy Spirit. I am sure cars going by would love seeing a charismatic crazy runner!

So I thank God for the ability to run and turning into a time to praise Him and get to know Him more deeply. It has been an amazing journey!

ALMOST ONE MONTH FROM THE CHICAGO MARATHON!!!!!!