In 2011, I logged three hundred and eighty miles on my running shoes. It is hard to believe that I ran that many miles. With something that impressive, it seems I would have set out to do it. I didn't.
Rather, after seven years of sporadic daily exercise, I decided to run a half-marathon because my sister-in-law was finally ready to run it with me.
That was the main goal. To run a half-marathon.
Since I had run a full marathon several years before I thought this would be an easy goal to tackle. I was wrong. Yes, you can write that down. I was wrong. Not running -- really at all -- for seven years, gaining the weight I had lost back, and entering into my forties doesn't make for easy half-marathon training.
On a crazy note, because it felt like work to train, it made it easier to make time to train. "I have to do this" seems much more compelling than "I love this!" Usually I feel guilty for doing something that I enjoy. This time I only remember one good training run.
Yet, the reason 380 miles is on my mind is the gratitude I have for them. You see, I twisted my knee two days after Christmas. Running the upcoming half-marathon this spring is out of the question. Walking it is a maybe and a daunting goal, considering that I have not bent my knee fully for 3 weeks.
I am so thankful that I have run a half-marathon and the full 26.2 marathon before that. That full marathon was one of my top two items on my life list I things I want to accomplish. This set-back is only temporary. I will be active again.
But it is not a blow to a dream-goal.
I am so thankful.
There is disappointment. My son and I had signed up together and were training together. I loved that. I am sad about not being able to do that.
But I am so thankful that this set-back isn't putting me in despair of reaching a dream that I've had for a long time. It can't!
This obstacle cannot strike a blow to the goal of running a marathon because I have already done it! Amazing!
Thus, this realization has caused me to think about the number one item on my life list. It has been there longer than running 26.2 miles.
So... now it's time.
Time to pursue that dream. Cross it off the list before some small obstacle knocks a blow to that dream-goal.
Hopefully next year at this time I will have logged 380 miles pursuing my other dream. No regrets. May the Lord continue to "teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
How about you?
Have you ever encountered a disappointing set-back
that surprisingly gave you a better perspective on life?
Love, Kathleen
Have you ever encountered a disappointing set-back
that surprisingly gave you a better perspective on life?
Love, Kathleen
Wow, Kathleen, I am impressed that you ran a marathon and that you were training again...love how you took your disappointment and used it instead to focus on another dream. Visiting from Jen's blog. Pray/hope your knee recovers quickly :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prayers and the encouragement.
DeleteI am impressed too! And you have such a good attitude about this set-back. God has some funny ways. If you had not hurt your knee you would not have been pursuing your new dream. A little detour here. We had a similar experience with our last round of infertility. Without going into a long explanation, the detour brought us back to our adoption from Haiti, which is where He wanted us all along. Just at the right time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being impressed -- how funny, I didn't really think about that part of the story! It seemed a matter of course. And sometime I would love to hear more about the detour that you have been on. We have a compassion child in Haiti and so my heart resonates with that country.
DeleteI want to know what your new dream is! Will you tell us next week?
ReplyDeleteThanks for wanting to know! It will be in my next post -- kind of hidden. Perhaps you'll be able to sleuth it out.
DeleteWell said! I HATE running, but know I need to do it! I don't even dream of a half marathon, MAYBE a 10k? Interested to know your new dream!
ReplyDeleteHey, it's okay to hate running! Pursue a different activity...:+)) I run because I like it; not because I "should".
DeleteYou are great at creating suspense! I want to know what your number 1 dream is. :D I'll be back next week to check!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will ever run a full (not even a half) marathon in my life. I would like to just even like running, but I've tried and I have some kind of knee problem that doesn't make me like it as much as I can, or even to use it as a way to keep fit. =( I hope that your knee is doing okay.
ReplyDelete