Richmond Race Reflections

I have a confession: I haven’t run since the Marathon.  In my defense, I thought for sure I had seriously injured my knee.  However, after days of comfrey salve, ice packs, IB Profin, and elf shoes (i.e. Dansko clogs) I was able to rock my heels to school today (okay, they were wedges, but close enough).  It was a minor victory-and this close to Thanksgiving something I added to my “give thanks” checklist.  Anyway, haven’t run.  I was all packed and ready to go back to the gym today, but one of my dearest friends extended the offer to meet her and her adorable kids at the playground after school, and well, who can resist kids who have their own song for me??  That’s right, those kids have a “Miss Jackson” song.  Okay, its very likely plagiarized from the somewhat well-known group, Outkast, but who’s counting?!  So, didn’t make it to the gym. 

This time off has given me plenty of time to think, reflect, and process what I learned over 26.2 miles and way too many hours through downtown Richmond. 

1-I could not plan for just how hard that race was going to be.  I am a bit of a control freak.  I like to plan ahead and anticipate everything that may (or may not) happen.  I prefer to be pro-active rather than reactive.  Kristin and I went in with a plan.  We were going to run for 4-6 miles, walk at the next water stop for 2ish minutes and run for another 4-6 miles, “rinse and repeat.”  That plan held for approximately the first 13 miles.  I don’t remember much after that.  But, I do know that I didn’t stick to that plan.  The nerve of those marathon event planners to pick a course that contained hills, and boring neighborhoods.  Oh, and I do remember needing some kind of nourishment and being offered gummy bears and chocolate chip cookies.  Yea, didn’t plan for that either-all I wanted was a banana.  I did manage to locate an apple, which I ran with for a bit until I took a bite and nearly choked on the peel.  As my “plan” fell apart the Lord reminded me that “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).  I had planned my course, I was going to take 2 gummies every 4-6 miles, walk as I refueled, start out so slow that it felt uncomfortable so I could finish strong.  I had planned my course.  The only thing that allowed me to finish that race was the Lord establishing my step after step after step. 

2-I have a little guy in my class this year.  I have had the privilege of being a part of his life for a few years now.  I taught his sister a few years back and his mom is one of my dearest friends (and running buddies-well running encouragers, she is a rockstar runner and I can never keep up.  For the record, she ran Richmond last year.)    Anyway, I know teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites, but William has a special place in my heart.  He has been battling Type I Diabetes for the last 5 years.  I watch that boy stick his finger multiple times a day, turn down birthday treats because he is too high, or eat peanut butter crackers or multiple liquid yogurts because he is too low.  I watch him struggle to pay attention because his blood sugar is elevated or it is dropping.  I watch him sit out at recess or P.E. because he is too low to participate, or walk laps in the halls because he is too high and his numbers won’t come down.  There are some nights that I baby-sit and I have to wake him up every few hours to prick his finger to check him-again.  What must it feel like to never get a full night’s sleep?  William never complains.  And I mean that. I have never heard him utter one complaint about his condition or its effects.  When my knee began to hurt, or my calf was severely cramping, or my baby toenail was hurting (sidenote: I just lost that toenail! Gross?  Nah, proud battle wound;)  I complained and groaned and moaned.  Poor Kristin-I am afraid I didn’t make the most positive or optimistic running partner.  Anyway, I realized that my sweet William had internalized the Scripture we memorized at the beginning of the year: Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without complaining or arguing.”  He is a superhero and I am daily challenged by his perspective and attitude.  It is a humbling experience when the Lord reveals that I am doing the learning from my students instead of vice versa.

3-Whenever I was training for the marathon and ran alone I always had my trusty IPOD.  I can’t run (alone) without music.  Without fail, whenever I came to the most trying part of the run my IPOD would break into “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”  I know, not one of the most get up and go songs, but remember, my goal of the marathon was SLOW and steady-that song seemed appropriately placed on my running mix for that purpose.  And, it was always so uplifting and encouraging for me to be reminded that “I know He carries me.” (I could have used that carrying around mile 16 by the way.)  Anyway, around mile 20 I think, I ran across a dead sparrow on the course.  This is not a joke, exaggeration, or lie.  I am not sure what I was supposed to learn from that bird.  I considered the fact that God’s eye was on the sparrow, but it was dead.  I tried to determine if that was a bad omen and perhaps I should have ceased the running immediately.  But, I only had one mile to go until I reached my Tim Tebow sign at mile 21-I wasn’t about to quit before that.  At least if I died, I died happy;)

4-In the end, the reward was so worth the pain.  And trust me, there was a LOT of pain.  I have never done anything more physically challenging in my life.  However, the sense of accomplishment I have, the excitement in actually finishing, the sweet medal, they all made it worth it!  Someone pretty wise told me the evening before I ran that there would be a finish line…the race would not last forever.  There were several moments during the race that I wasn’t sure if the end would EVER come, and yet I pushed on, in faith that the finish line actually did exist-after all, others had already made it there, right?  And that was my biggest take away from the race…I think there are times in life that I look around and go, “I could have NEVER anticipated life could be THIS hard.”  I have been blessed to live a relatively “pain free” life.  But, currently I am watching some of my dearest friends go through unthinkable trials.  One of them simply texted me the other day, “This is so hard.”  I bet, in the middle of those trials, it feels like there is no end in sight.  And yet, not only is there an end, there is a reward for finishing.  I have fallen in love with Romans 8 this past week.  (The first part of the chapter I am sure will surface in a later blog.)   However for now, look at Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  And verses 37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Regardless of the trials we suffer, the pain we feel, the betrayal, the failures, the loss, the (you fill-in-the-blank), NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ.  And if you look ahead to the book of Hebrews you will find an entire chapter (11) dedicated to those who have not only run the race, but have also crossed the finish line.  You see, the finish line really DOES exist.  Even if it’s hard to believe at mile 24 when the pregnant lady is urging you on and the tears are starting to fall.  Or if its at age 40 when your future is looking nothing like you imagined it would have 10 years ago-there IS an end to these trials (that’s why they are called temporary)-there IS a finish line, even if you can’t see it from where you are- and when you cross it and look back, I guarantee you the reward will be so worth the pain!