I am so grateful for my NOTES app on my phone because it was the easiest way to chronicle my struggles and learning through this past training season. Below is the brief story of how Monumental was chosen and the amazing race that it was for me - all glory to God.
Beginning in April-May as I had become faster through that past year (2014-2015) I wondered and dreamed about running another full marathon. With all the hats I wear and the current family dynamics I wasn't sure if it was the right time nor the best idea. I prayed about it occasionally and just let it go. I was having difficulties with remaining purposeful with my long runs through the summer. I did not but it wasn't pretty. It came to the end of June, beginning July that I had "had it". I was negative-thinking, critical of myself and others and just plain "blah". Mid-July, I remembered my hope of running this particular marathon and it just so happened to fall right before a vacation and conference I was already scheduled to attend "Leading & Loving It" in Nashville, TN. Mark and I discussed it and I pulled out a training plan I had held onto since copying it in 2008 (Running a Sub-4:00 hour Marathon by Runner's World). And that week in mid-July I mapped out the entire schedule on my Google Calendar - 16 weeks of pretty intense running including hills, speed work and long runs.
I was excited and wrote a huge blog about expectations and not becoming legalistic about it. Looking back, I believe I was wholely blessed with the process and did fairly well not becoming legalistic. I was determined! God had allowed me to be ready!!
No lie, it was hard. Training while working full-time was hard, being a mom and training was hard, and holy cow being a wife and training was hard especially since I'm a morning-waker and Mark's a night owl. "Good night Elijah, good night Ian, Hi Hon, how was your day Mark?, goodnight hon!" No joke, a new routine developed.
But training also healthily distracted me from disappointments in life, loss of loved ones, emotionally painful work days and ultimately, gave me margin and space to be with God and listen to His book of love. I went from Genesis to Acts (race day was John and Acts) and what perfect books for the race. I can't get over God's timing, His perfect timing. I don't understand His timing nor all of His ways, but He is good.
After the two-20 milers and then the 22 miler I knew I was ready but of course the two weeks before the race I fret. I get anxious, I lament and I text my closest friends for advice and confidence. I lean on their confidence and lean on their prayers. I speak with God but find it hard to trust Him. Will you really allow me to beat my goal or will it be a learning lesson of dependence? Will you keep me from injury? What if I dehydrate and don't meet my goal? What if my boys don't see me finish for whatever reason? What if Mark and I get mad at each other during race weekend? What if, what if what if?
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Alas, race weekend comes and I'm nervous but holding it in mostly. Royally distracted by the 3 year old screaming from the back seat as we make our way to Indianapolis. Yes, distracted and trying to keep the peace or at least the 3 of us ok while Elijah just has his tantrums. Emergency bathroom stop, have to get cash, what about supper? Oy!!
Finally at the hotel and boys are crazy. I head down to pick up my packet with my dad (love my daddy!) and look at the race course on screen as it's driven. Yes flat but kind of boring?! Anxious!
I laid everything out and knew it'd be ok. I didn't sleep much and heard my boys breathing and coughing and tossing and turning. I prayed and talking with Jesus about all kinds of things. Eventually it was time and by then my stomach was flipping. REALLY?!! Why is it flipping? I'm thinking. I want to maintain pace soooo badly, it's been a wild ride training already. Can I do this? What if I don't...blah...blah..blah. I received texts from several people and reply back. Slightly freaking out, ok freaking out. But luckily one of the key points to running a full marathon is to be able to empty your body out before running. And my body emptied, as nervous as it was. (A.k.a. I went to the restroom well.) I know TMI, but it's true!
Met my parents and went to the start. So many people! I find my coral and decide to stay towards the front. And then the 3:45 hour pacer stood in front of me and I said "I think I'm gonna back up." That's WAY too fast!
As the crowd moved forward after the gun shot, I slowly crept back to make sure I wasn't in over my head and then began. The first 8-14 miles I had to back myself off considerably and run a 9:00 pace (teatering between 8:30-9:15) and let everyone pass me. I wasn't slow nor did I walk but just kept listening to the book of John. Jesus talked to the Pharisees at one point and said (my paraphrase) you know the book of the Law but you are idiots and do not know me. You must know me and live in LOVE. It means nothing to simply know Scripture. Can you say: conviction! Yes I'm listening to Scripture but it means nothing if I don't talk with Jesus and seek Him.
My pace was on target by mid-way and I felt like God was simply stating to me, keep listening and just do 8 more miles (miles 12-20) so I thought this way and knew that at mile 20 I would think 3 more miles to get to mile 23 and then 3 more miles to get to 26.
Mile 15 came and the book of John was done. I basically talked with Jesus the entire mile and praised Him, thanking Him for this opportunity to run, move and be present with Him. What peace this mile was!! I prayed about the next miles and that I hoped I wouldn't have to stop to restart the book of Acts. I asked Siri to start the book of Acts on my iphone and she did! :) Simple joys.
What happened next is not something I could have anticipated. I listened to Acts and saw how God grew His church. How love spread the Word and how people persecuted the disciples for their witness. I kept thinking about water stops and gel stops but otherwise listened and tried to run straight (like a race car driver by the corners). I didn't really walk except to put water down my mouth and then would throw it on me to cool my muscles. Praise God for Biofreeze!!! No muscle aches.
Again what happened next was awesome...I felt myself going faster! 8:30-8:45 pace for that matter. I arrived at mile 20 and knew that if I just maintained the comfortable pace - NOTE COMFORTABLE pace!! I was totally like "WHAT?!" It was comfortable. By mile 20 I did not expect to feel comfortable but it was.
By miles 22-23 I began to hit a wall and my muscles were getting tight so I made sure to walk intentionally during the water stop and then just ramped it up again. The last 8 miles of the race I was literlly passing EVERYBODY. There was one young lady that did pass me and her pace was awesome 8:00-8:15 and I let her go. Run in my lane, run my own race I told myself.
Miles 24-25 were nothing but grit and consistency, still surprised that my pace was good and not slowing down. Mile 25 came and I quickened and laid it all down - 8:00 minute pace! What a race?! What an adventure?! I want my boys to see!! I voice texted Mark at 24.2 just to make sure. ;) So sue me, this was important to me.
I came around the corner and had a quarter mile left and sprinted. Who has a sprint after 26 miles?! (let me rephrase who has a sprint who is not an elite runner?) and I did and I sprinted and I saw the time. My goal time was crushed - PRAISE GOD. Only He can orchestrate such a race where I was steady and faster at the end. What a great prayer for my own life, to pursue Him quicker as my life moves forward. And even better than the goal time - MY BOYS GOT TO SEE ME FINISH!! yes, tear in my eye.
Monumental Marathon #5, best yet. Want to stay on cloud 9 for a while. Mapped out the post-race recovery plan and it's pretty sweet. Muscles doing well except for the ill-equipped massage I received Friday but that's another blog post. So bad that I just laughed. I can't wait to run with friends who are doing their first half-marathons this upcoming Spring!!
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