Overall, this season of training has been my best one yet. It takes having several bad seasons to appreciate the good ones.
I had seasons when I couldn’t really train like I wanted to. I was out of shape but filled with hope that I could tackle the distance. It wasn’t pretty but I was able to finish those races.
This season started as normal. I came out of sabbatical and decided to sign up for the half. My head coach asked me to run the full and coach one of our pace groups. I said yes, not knowing that a big change was ahead of me.
Change can be good. I wasn’t sure what moving in the middle of a training season meant.
It took a lot of grit and determination. It took finding a new running group. It took putting myself out there and trusting that God knew what He was doing.
God proved to be faithful and so good. My new group proved to be just what I needed and more. I found new friends who pushed me to be the best I could be. The running community here also encouraged me not to give up on some dreams I had when I started running.
The word “fast” and “slow” are not used here. Basically because everything is possible and you will have company on the way to your dream, whatever it may be.
This season should have been shaky but it was solid. Solid cross training week after week. I remember complaining to one of my buddies back in H-town about having sore muscles. They told me “suck it up buttercup, put the work outs in.” Week after week, I grew stronger, my long runs because solid.
The issues I was having in the past were no longer there. Thanks be to God, my weak areas became strong.
My time away from marathon training helped me work on my mental game. My move helped me master my mental game. Yes, things are not as before, and that’s exactly how it is supposed to be.
My training season taught me that hard work, week after week, pays off.
I learned that the running community will embrace you and encourage you.
I also learned that I can encourage others along the way.
I love distance running and I always will.
Will I run another marathon? I hope so. Will I run after this marathon? A million times, yes!
I appreciate your prayers as I embark in this journey of faith. Running 26.2 miles takes a lot of faith. Mine is firmly founded in the fact that God can and will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all I can ask or imagine.
I’m counting on your prayers this Sunday friends! Thanks for reading this series!
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