P is for...

   

                                   is for perseverance.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

  -Hebrews 12:1 

  

     I stood in the recovery area guzzling a bottle of water and munching on some delicious honey mustard flavored pretzels.  My body was craving just about any nourishment to replenish the energy just expended in the Geist half marathon that took place this past Saturday on the north side of Indianapolis.  As I stood resting with my friend, I overhead a father's words of wisdom to his young daughters.  "This is what setting a goal and achieving it is all about," he explained and I couldn't help but smile.  This would have been a moment that my brother and I would have jokingly referred to as one of mom or dad's infamous life lessons.  In a world where it seems fewer and fewer kids are taught a strong work ethic and the value of pushing toward a goal, I appreciated the valuable lesson he was striving to teach the girls.  

     The past several months, I have been working to achieve one of my life goals: completing a mini marathon.  I want to especially direct this post to anyone out there who hears the words mini marathon or half marathon and thinks, "I couldn't do that."  That used to be me.  Looking back in high school, I absolutely dreaded running days in gym class.  A slow-paced mile seemed like twenty.  Once in college, however, I participated in a few 5k runs and enjoyed the competitive aspect of racing for time.  Not that I was trying to beat anyone in particular, but I realized I liked pushing myself to see what I could do.  Building upon that, this past fall I helped coach a program called Girls on the Run at my elementary school.  As the weeks progressed and we reached the date of our 5k race, I was so incredibly proud of the hard work that the girls of all shapes, sizes, and athletic ability were able to complete.  Every one of them improved and learned that they could do more than they might have imagined.  When I learned that my brother and his girlfriend had signed up to run the largest half marathon in the country, the Indianapolis 500 Festival mini marathon, I jumped at the opportunity.  Soon after beginning my training, a college friend convinced me to sign up for a second one that would take place just two weeks following my first.  I'm a girl who likes a challenge albeit a large one.  I was in.

With both of these races now in the rearview mirror, I can honestly say that this experience has been a huge lesson in perseverance.  It took me several months to build up to the place that I am now, and yet I feel I have much room left to improve.  This is just the start!  So for anyone out there, young or old, athletic or a bit rusty in the exercise world, let me tell you that you can absolutely do it too.  With a strong will, a desire to succeed, the determination to see it through, and God's help carrying those legs mile after mile, you can achieve big goals for yourself as well.  

In closing, let me share just a couple of the many lessons learned so far in my training and race day experiences.  Here's hoping they'll inspire you to get going too!

1. Don't expect to run far right away.  It's a building process and a very slow one at that.  Focus on what you can do today and be proud of it.  Next week you will go just a bit longer or farther.

2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  My body was so much more ready for the miles on days when I had given my body lots of water.

3. Share your goal with family members and close friends.  Once others know what you are aiming to do, it's much more motivating to prove that you can actually achieve it.

4. Don't worry about how far or how fast others runners go.  They don't have your unique experiences or body.  Be in competition with yourself and work to overcome your weakness by pushing yourself and excelling!

  

5. Sign up, start training, and stick to it.  If you always say someday, that day will never arrive.  Now's the time!  I began a training plan back in December and stuck to it fairly rigidly, especially for the first few months.  After getting the hang out it, I was able to make better time and mileage decisions for myself based on my body's response.  I will say that there were many, many days when I really didn't want to get up and run.  However, 99% of the time it felt awesome to accomplish it once I was up and moving.  Remember, it's about perseverance and working hard now to achieve your results and goal in the long run!