Marathon Conditioning

I've already trained for a half marathon.

Back in September and October, I trained to run the Stomp the Grapes Half Marathon.  I did not end up actually entering the race. (Ultimately because I discovered it would cost only slightly more to run a full marathon, so I decided to save money.) However, I followed the training through as best I could.  So, I can honestly say I have successfully run 10 miles nonstop.  This is complete fact.  And I couldn't stop smiling at the end of it.  (Granted, the next week, when the long run called for 12 miles, I hit a wall halfway through.  But I chalk this up to having not eaten enough, and not wearing the exactly proper attire.)

I am much more prepared because of the half training.

I've since invested in more cold weather running gear.  And a gym membership.  Since, after all, I do live in Ohio: the land not of seasonal climates, only day-to-day weather fluctuations.  With the gym, I'll have absolutely no excuses when the weather is iffy.  And, with the gym, I'll be able to do things I couldn't before, such as seeing how long I can maintain a given pace when all my other variables are controlled. And I can include strength training (which, since I started my whole weight loss journey, has been sorely lacking).

I've been in conditioning for a week.

Which means I've been stricter on my calorie intake, and exercise routine.  I'd chunked on around 10 pounds over December and January. (Christmas cookies, you're really tasty.) But, I'm happy to report I've already lost 2 - 3 pounds from this past week.  I've got about two more weeks of conditioning.    Then, mid-February, the REAL training begins.

Fact 5: Most people who train for marathons do not lose significant amounts of weight.

My goal is to be in the category of trainees who do lose weight.  While I've already been told by a couple people that I don't need to lose any more weight (bless their hearts; it does often feel good to hear that), the fact is I'm still about 50 pounds from my goal weight (and, by traditional BMI standards, still rank in the 'obese' category).  If I train properly, and God is with me in this goal, I could be within 15 pounds of my goal weight by race day.

I am stoked beyond all getout about this.

After thinking I'd lost all desire to run the full near the end of 2011 (it was not a happy few days; I was at the core of brokenness), I've come back from those days. It was not without a lot of prayer from friends. (Thank you!!)  The marathon I am running begins at 6 a.m. on June 17th, 2012, in Stadium Park.  It will be Canton's inaugural marathon - and it will also be my inaugural marathon.  There are so many people excited about this event - and I am thrilled that so many of my own friends and acquaintances are as well.

I will do this. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." (1 Corinthians 9:25)

I'm not saying it will be easy.  It will take a lot of time.  There will be early mornings, and late evenings.  Lots of oatmeal breakfasts (and I do not typically gravitate to oatmeal), and research/experimentation with Gu gel.  Water, and rarely soda. Tears from bad training days, and frantic research on new potential injuries (though, Lord willing, these days will be few).  And you'd better believe there will be prayer.  I've known, even since running my first full mile without stopping, that I'd need His help on this. Daily.

Finally - there will be daydreams.

Daydreams about just enjoying the race, and trying not to focus on how many miles are still in front of me. Maybe running with other friends as they complete their relay legs. Cheers from the sidelines. But mostly, I'm thinking about crossing that finish line.  And I'm trying to see my face when it happens.  Right now, I can't.  But I do know what I'll be feeling.

I am STOKED!

Things I've Learned About Myself

I am content with where I am, job-wise.
I used to think I needed one of those awesome high-paying, benefits-providing, finally-get-my-own-place jobs right out of the college graduation gate. (And that I was a failure if I didn't have one.)  But the fact is: That is not our economy right now.  But God is in control of this area in my life, too.  Only recently have I begun to be content with that, and to let myself consider job avenues I would have previously turned down cold.  They're already proving highly encouraging.  (Read: There may be new developments fairly soon on the horizon!)  And this isn't to say I don't want my own place.  I do.  However, please note the next item.

I am finally learning patience.
And I'm learning how to be content with it.  Previously, I was only impatient with being handed the lesson of patience.


I am not invincible.
Up until quite recently, I had the mentality that because I have a relatively strong faith, I wouldn't be attacked by the evil one. Wrong. In the last months of 2011, I was pursued by someone I never anticipated being pursued by.  He is, in many respects, an admirable person.  Thus the reason I fell for him.  However, Satan's greatest weapon is intermingling lies between what would otherwise be great truth. The fact is, it was a toxic relationship for many reasons.  My greatest hope is that God's glory will be revealed through it and that everyone involved will be washed clean in the blood.


I know I'm a sinner now.
Per the 'invincible' situation, I can honestly say I'm in need of God's grace.  Before it, I'd never done anything I, myself, considered truly bad.  I'd never felt tested, challenged, or tempted like I had.  Moreover: I had never given in to it before.  The high of caving to flesh desires is thrilling.  But the crash is painful.  I've never experienced such pain in my life before.  But, I am encouraged, the pain only comes because of spirit desire.

I am developing an awareness of flesh desires versus spirit desires.
I've gleaned limited head knowledge of this concept before.  But again, due to recent events, I've been able to experience real-world application.  Friends, the struggle is a truly fascinating, complicated, challenging, beautiful thing.  The best way I can describe it is that God and Satan are having it out, and you're the battleground.  I would say that you can try to fight with one side or another, but really, as I understand at present, I'm thinking you can't.  It comes down to who has a stronger hold on you at the time.

I want to be pursued.
By the right person.  At the right time.  By the man God truly wants me to be pursued by.  And I want to fall for him for my whole life.  I want to be ready for marriage, not just infatuated with the idea of it. I want to have no regrets about who I marry.  I want to be unabashedly in love with him.  I want us to rejoice together in God on the ups, and cling to Him on the downs.  I want to venture through this life knowing that we're in it together.  Until death.


Jesus really DOES love me.  And you.
For whatever reason, reading a book about hell opened my eyes to how much Jesus loves us.  Yes, I've been told this numerous times before.  But through this particular book, it sank in.  It isn't yet a deep, deep, fully matured sinking in.  But I'm hopeful this revelation will grow.


Jesus also thinks I'm beautiful.
A dear friend of mine gave me the book 'Captivating'.  I'd heard of it before, had read reviews, and had developed my own mixed opinions on it.  Conclusion: Don't knock it until you read it.  I thought I would be completely turned off by it.  But it gave me some wonderful insight I'd never considered before.  I have to say this: Never before in my life have I thought I was truly beautiful.  But knowing that Jesus thinks I am gives me hope that one day I will know and accept this for myself.  I am already beginning to.

I crave reading.
I've had aspirations for a couple years now of digging into Christian literature.  Only within the past few weeks has it begun to happen.  (It's made me consider getting a Kindle, though that's another discussion.)  Long story short: I'm loving it!  I'm craving it.  And because I'm craving it, it's causing me to crave getting into the Word more too. (Which, unfortunately, still somewhat has that undeserved stigma of 'boring!' attached to it.  Gotta kick that.)

I have a 'doubting Thomas' complex.
Whenever I read (even scripture), there is a disconnect between my reality and what I'm reading.  For years I've read various scripture passages, and have thus gained a fairly sizable amount of head knowledge.  And while I believe my prayers are true, for whatever reason, I still have reservations when going about day-to-day activities.  I don't doubt His existence.  I do believe He came and will come again.  But there's still a huge part of my reality that asks, "Wait... really?"  I don't know how to explain it other than I'm like Thomas.  Even though I believe God has placed the faith, the hope, the seed of belief in my heart, there is still a part of me that will only be truly convinced of God's true presence once I see the proof.  But again - the recurring theme is hope.  Hope that I will grow in knowledge and belief of the one Truth.


I want more blog readers.
Yes, shameless plug, I know.  If you're a Facebook friend that found this, let me know.  I would love comments!  (And I also want to follow your blog if you've got one.)