I watched as a beloved friend waddled down the sidewalk clinging to her hubby as her body was preparing to deliver their first little one. I ran out with a friend to pray over the expanding family. As we wandered back to our desks, we had a feeling of joy and connection. THEY are the ones running the race of birth, but we got to cheer them on and be a part of something amazing they are accomplishing.

That reminded me of all times I’ve been struggling through something in life and looking up to see a cheer leader urging me to keep going. This occurs when running in an organized event as well. In many of the bigger races, the running bibs are published with our first names on them. I tell you, come KM 16 of 21, I often zone out and hit a type of cruise control.

This is where the run becomes more of a mind game than a training and form of running game. The start and middle are long gone and the end isn’t quite close enough for the crowds of cheer leaders yet.

I remember the first time I ran with a named bib. I was in a mind-over-matter moment pleading my feet to keep going when someone screamed, “Run, Marilyn! You can do it!!” She was standing alone at the side of the road with a Starbucks in her mittened hands. Us runners were spread apart enough that she could see our bibs. She chose to stand in the cold and call out our names in encouragement.

I don’t know who she is, but I’ll never forget her.

She taught me the value of letting people into your journey. Some runners fold their bibs so their names aren’t visible because they don’t want to be known. Our amazing cheer leader wouldn’t have been able to call out personalized support.

I was fortified by her willingness to join in my accomplishment. I picked up the pace and finished strong. It wasn’t the year I broke 2 hours for the 1/2, but it was the year I knew this was something I really COULD achieve. That’s what made me stay at the finish line encouraging others as they crossed over. I knew what it meant to encourage and be encouraged.

Who do I have to cheer on today? Is there someone out there that needs a bit of invigoration or fortification? Will I choose to join their journey with a harrowing cry of hope or will I stay inside hugging my hot coffee close too caught up in my own journey to cheer someone else on?

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Oh, my feet did not want to run today. Well, I think my feet did, but my mind did not want to wake up to join them! The alarm went off at 5:50. I snoozed until 6:30. I was literally running late. My brain argued all the way through the warm up. “You’re not supposed to be doing this! It’s YOGA day!!!!”

You see, I missed my last run of week 2 last week. It was supposed to be Saturday, but I spent all day with my daughters at Wonderland. It was an active day, but I did not train. Sunday was Father’s day. Spending time with my dad is no excuse for not running. I choose a nap instead.

So, there I was, warming up and shaking out the cobwebs. I just let the thoughts of the beautiful weekend roll through. I am so thankful for the time flexible training gives me. I don’t have to be exact to succeed. I am not a failure for missing one run. I have so much to be thankful for.

My dad is an awesome reminder of strength. He has a quiet way about him that brings me peace when my thoughts are spinning like a tornado. He may not enjoy running, but he is the embodiment of what running does for my spirit – points me back to Jesus, quietly, persistently, lovingly.

During my cool down, I got out my phone and texted Becky. She is a week ahead of me in training, but she’s never done this before. I was asking her about next week’s schedule as next week starts tomorrow for me! She was such an encouragement. She reminded me that listening to my body – surrendering to the nap – was what was best for my journey. She even called me “amazing”!

This woman, a new single mom, is struggling to hold the lion of anger and the sloth of depression both at bay and choosing running to help with that. Wow! I gave my running away at that stage of life. I am so inspired by her. SHE is the “amazing” one, yet she encourages me – never negative even amidst her pain… I am a better person for having her in my life.

My mind went full circle as I think about the mountains before me today: emergency eye doc appointment for my daughter, music recital for me tonight, mountains of laundry to do for daughter’s trip on Wednesday. Yet, as the schedule swirls, I do not. I can simply run the task at hand, one step at a time…

Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Becky Thank you, God, for the “AMAZING” friends and family that you have gifted me. They have beautiful feet!!!

Romans 10:15 “As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'”

My yoga instructor used to say that the hardest part of doing yoga is rolling out the mat. The same goes for running. The hardest part is lacing up your shoes. To lace up means you’ve climbed out of bed (or off the couch if you’re an evening runner) and made time in the day to run.

Making time is a sacrifice in today’s busy world. The longer you run the more time it takes. I know that seems obvious, but it is a commitment to train for long distances. As I embark on this again, I have two young teens. Although I can leave them on their own now, they still need me to be present. This means making time to run while they are busy or sleeping.

Working two jobs already makes this hard. What does all of this mean? I need to prioritize. If I am striving to follow Jesus and be a good example to my girls, then they need to be first on my priority list. That means living life with them not just FOR them.

When I used to run long distance, it was to escape a difficult home situation. I’d get the kids to bed and then be off for an hour or two running – dependent on where I was in my running schedule. I was the up and at ’em parent in the mornings, so I couldn’t run then when I had to have them at daycare by 7am. So my evenings were long and arduous.

I knew I needed to run for my mental health in order to cope and walk through the difficult times with my girls. This meant that I had to run FOR them. In order to care for them, I had to care for me. I was getting lost in a dying marriage and I needed to survive. The only reason I kept going was so my wee daughters had someone they could rely on.

Now that we are through the sharp pain of our family breakup and have rebuilt our family norm, we do everything together. For the most part this is good, but sometimes we need our space. Running allows for that – but so does sleep!

I’ve always been good at sleeping. For those that struggle getting a good night’s sleep, you understand how this is a skill and a gift. Yet, losing out on a bit of sleep or adjusting my schedule so I can be up earlier is also a gift. Running helps keep my mind clear and my heart healthy.

Running is active worship – sort of like singing. I can pray while my feet plod (or fly – depending on my level of training). I can plan and think through the day. I come home, wake up my girls, and hit the shower. I’m ready for the day. Now I can truly live life WITH my princesses rather than just beside them.

Laughter comes more easily when I have the mental health to deal with the spilled milk of life. Laughter is good for our family. I think we need a little more.

So, it’s about the end game – joy and peace. When running becomes a metaphor for the spiritual life, we can “be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with JOY” Colossians 1:11

The first step on the journey is lacing up the shoes…

The alarm goes off with the news calling out

All that I missed while sleeping blissfully ignorant

To the world around me

My sleepy brain tells me to return to dream land

As it sounds like it’s raining out there on the cold

Street outside today

I slide my feet off the mattress and aim them towards

The floor hoping gravity would cause them to drip

Down to connect

My body with the new day before me

One more snooze and I crawl towards reality

Soon out the door

Once again, I’m running feeling such great relief

The communion with my Maker that I used to have

Flooding back at once

I never really left Him and in so many ways am closer

But this intimacy is so special as my feet hit the ground

Beneath each stride

Breathing in filling my lungs with rain cleansed air

Exhaling the stresses of yesterday no longer welcome here

Mind fully awake now

As I run, I pray for peace regarding my tomorrows

Although I won’t be going quite as far as I used to

I will still run

I know that He has me and has never let go

Regardless of how I feel about my past I know

He’s been with me

Always

Jogging and walking mix to build endurance

Yet, today I ran through a walk stressed with yesterday

Thinking of tomorrow

God quietly reminded me that in this race there are times

To slow down and walk with Him alone

Just stop running

Only for a little while and then I’ll run once more

Building strength over time – waking up to this gift

Health of mind and body

As I near my cool down, I understand the quest

I seek peace – I pursue peace – peace of mind and spirit

My Prince of Peace

The walk slows and I near my door thankful to be home

More thankful that I rolled out of bed in time to do this

Morning’s run

When I hear a gentle cooing of a bird nearby

I look around – left then right – then I lift my gaze

Up above the door

He’s sent me a beautiful grey dove to sing a song to me

Softly, gently reminded that He alone is the source

Of my peace

There we were – muddy like never before and so elated. We had done it – together. We were MUD GIRLS! The relationship building of a motivational run is a beautiful thing. I had been a long distance runner in a previous life stage, but I had given that up. That story matters to the understanding of this one, but it’s not the primary thought to me today. Today, I recognize the muddiness of life and the joy that can be found amidst the sore muscles and the sharp pains of jumping into the unseen. Today, I am going to run this race no matter how dirty it gets and I’m going to smile through it all knowing that I am getting one step closer to my precious Jesus, being an example to my wonderful daughters, and living a redemption story like no one else’s. So begins my continued story.

“… My year of redemption had come.” Isaiah 63:4