On running. And running. And running.

During small group last night, we talked about the ways in which we take time out to consider God and His awesome glory. Everyone had different answers. Nathan remarked that he saw God while he was overseas fight for our country, that while he was in these third world countries, there were moments in the dirt and grime that God revealed Himself and His beauty shone through. Kristin remarked that her grandfather once said that he knew for sure and certain that there was a God when he saw the Grand Canyon for the very first time. Chelsey said that she was in awe of God's detail in the process of pregnancy and birth (especially in light of all the pregnant women in our group.)

For me, it is when I run. Not that He doesn't reveal Himself in other ways and not that I only contemplate His glory when I run, but there is something about running that is so incredible. God designed my body to be able to persevere and push through 1, 2, 3, and 8 miles. He made my muscles strengthen and gave my lungs the capacity to fill and empty as I take each step. The fact that my body responds to the activity is amazing to me. Everything changes. Weight, muscle mass, the percentage of fat, etc.

I love that God is a God of detail. I love that He made my body to work the way that it does on purpose. He knew exactly what He was doing. I love that He created a beautiful world for me to observe while I am running (and an iPod to listen to courtesy of Anthony).

I want to be better about meditating on God's awesomeness. It is what we (I) are (am) called, as Christians, to do.

Psalm 143:5
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

On Running a Half Marathon.

So, I am super crazy and I am planning on running the Augusta Half Marathon. In all actuality, it's not so crazy. I love to run and I have lots of friends running it. I am excited about girl time and the fact that we are doing this together. Yesterday's run was pretty awesome, but short. Four miles and I needed to do eight. We'll try again today.

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Best way to start the day...

I got up this morning and ran. As I ran back up the driveway afterwards, my little brother Ben came to meet me. He asked me how far I had run and I replied I had run to the end of our road and back up (a little over two miles). Ben's eyes became wide with admiration and a "Wow" came from his lips. It may not have been the farthest or best run of my life, but to my little brother, I had just run a marathon.

On Running

I love to run. There is something about it that makes me happy before, during, and after. I have no romantic ideas about it. It's not the wind rushing through my hair. (I mean, who am I kidding? I'm not going that fast.) It's not that I feel particularly glamorous when running. I love the sweat, the way I breath, and the rush of endorphins.

On the girly side, I love running clothes and running shoes. And on the human side, I love the community, the idea that there are millions of people who run and we all do it for similar reasons. I love passing people running the opposite direction and giving a nod of acknowledgment. On the health side, I know that running is good for my heart, it keeps me lean, it strengthens my muscles, and gives me energy.

2007 Country's Midnight Express

So, you get it. I love to run. And I love everything about it. I get new shoes every six months. I read "Runner's World." I try and eat what they say runners should eat and I have pretty much cut everything but water and juice out of my liquid diet. Whoo-Hoo. Go me.

In all of this, I struggle. Time, motivation, time. It is something that I love, but something that I have to schedule. I can think of a million excuses not to get up in the morning, what I have to do after work, why I need to go to bed early. I know that once I hit the ground I am going to be just fine, it's getting there that's the hard part.

This past summer, I ran with my friend, Sam, a number of times. After awhile, Sam asked if we could really run and not "fake" run. I started to realize that I was half jogging, half speed walking. Since then, I have be dedicated to actually running. And this year, I have committed to becoming better at setting a reasonable pace for myself that is actually running. I have also committed to not putting running off. It will not be the thing that I say "no" too. It will be a regular part of my day. It will be something that I do for me.

Want to read what I read? Check out Runner's World.