One Step At A Time

Half marathons are for those crazy runners who train like crazy and have no time for anything else in life.  That’s what I thought for many years…before I became one of them!

Two years ago I took the first steps on a long journey.  My son Ben chose to go out for track and began doing a little running to prepare for it.  I decided to join him with the goal of running in the Eyota Days 5K race.  In those first months just running a couple miles nearly did me in.  My lungs ached as I gasped for air.  After a little running the breathing improved, only to be replaced by sore legs.  Running over a three mile race seemed nearly impossible, but I kept at it, running a few miles two to three times a week.  Little by little things felt better.  I felt a surge of pride as I crossed the finish line of the 2011 Eyota Days 5K race.  The training paid off.  I made it.

After that one race my competitive nature kicked in and I pushed myself harder in training.  I wanted to improve my race time!  I’d found a 2 ½ mile course to run on a regular basis.  A few months later I was pleased with my time in St. Charles’ Gladiolus Days race.  I’d grown to like this running thing!

The coming of winter cut back on my running plans until Ben invited me to join in the Dover-Eyota Winter Running Club, a group of teachers and students trying to keep in shape.  The group started by running three miles a time and I jumped in with enthusiasm.  I had three miles under control!  Anxiety hit when the group started moving up to five miles.  I hadn’t run five miles since high school…I didn’t know if I had it in me.  Thankfully I had a fellow slow runner that day and I made it!  Five miles still seemed an incredibly long way to run, but I knew I could do it if I pushed myself.

Little did I know that the Winter Running Club existed to help people train for a half marathon.  Ben eagerly signed up and invited me to join him at the Lace It Up run in Rochester.  I looked at the calendar and smiled.  The race was on a Sunday morning.  I had to work.  Darn!  :) I went to watch the end of Ben’s run and stood amazed that these people could run so far.  Thirteen miles…ufdah!  I could run five…I’d NEVER be able to do THAT!

This past summer I continued running my 2 ½ mile course, pushing myself harder and harder and watching my times improve.  Ben and I sought out as many 5K races as we could…and I actually won some medals in the ‘sort-of-geezer’ age group.  I started to see myself as a runner.

Late this fall Ben asked me to pull out my calendar.  “What do you have on January 26^th?”  The day looked wide open…until he mentioned, “That’s the day of the half marathon in St. Paul.  Run it with me!”  I couldn’t find any excuse not to other than a bit of fear.  Could a guy who felt anxiety about a five mile run find the strength to go thirteen?

Training quickly got underway.  No longer did the 2 ½ mile course suffice…I had to go further.  Little by little the runs lengthened…three miles…four miles…five miles.  I could do it (and it felt good)!  In mid-December I cranked out a seven mile run.  Success!  A few weeks ago I went for eight miles and felt pretty good.

Last Saturday the big day arrived.  I had a goal of finishing in less than two hours.  The experience of training convinced me that I would survive.  I made it in 1:59:35.  I could never have done it two years ago.  It felt WAY too intimidating.  I needed small changes to my running…and small successes to celebrate.  Little by little my running life changed to allow me to do what I’d thought impossible for me. I’d become one of those crazy half marathon people. 

Small steps (with celebrations at each step) allow for major, sustainable changes in life.  It's easy to feel intimidated by people who seem more ‘advanced’ in faith than we think we’ll ever be.  What things seem impossible to you? 

·         Is it reading the Bible cover to cover?  Start with a few chapters a day.

·         Is it spending significant time every day in prayer?  Start with a few minutes a day and build from there.

·         Is it worshipping on a regular basis?  Start with a few Sundays in a row and move on from there.

·         Is it having a basic working knowledge of Scripture?  Begin with a book or two explaining what it’s all about.

It’s easy to think, “I’m just not the kind of person who can do that.”  We feel too intimidated to do anything.  That sounds a lot like me…until God helped me to take the first step.

Don’t expect change to come all at once.  Celebrate each step on the journey to the new you!  God walks with you every step of the way.