Don't Worry. Trust.

LISA:

Every run right now is hard.  I don’t know if it’s the warmer temperatures, my diet, conditioning, attitude or what.  I can’t remember a training time when I’ve dreaded a run then got out there and dreaded it while running.   Oh yes, I’ve dreaded going out and doing an 18 or 20 miler in the past but always when I actually hit the road I start to enjoy it.  Not this time around. 

I’ve also been plagued with injuries.  That’s not common for me either.  I’ve run for 20 years pretty much injury free.  Not this year.   I’ve had issues with my right hamstring, then tendonitis in my left foot, then a tear in my left quad, then I was sick with the gunk/allergies/upper respiratory infection for 10 days over Spring Break and then this week I started having pretty severe pain in my right quad/IT band.  With all of these physical and mental obstacles I have asked myself, “What is God trying to teach me?  And why am I not getting it!?!?!” 

Niki and I are in a bible study on Mondays.  I know what you’re thinking, “Jeez, those girls spend a lot of time together… running, coaching basketball, bible study.”   I know!  And guess what?  We never seem to run out of things to talk about!  J 

Anyway, back to bible study.  We are studying a book called Respectable Sins.  It is about sin but not what some would call the obvious sins of our culture (murder, adultery, idolatry, etc.) but the subtle sins that we may overlook (pride, selfishness, anxiety, frustration, impatience, unthankfulness, etc.).  One of the sins that has really stood out to me during this marathon training (because of what seems to be an endless list of physical and mental obstacles) has been the sin of worry.   This is the typical conversation that would normally be going on in my head right now: 

What if this pain in my quad doesn’t go away?  Did I tear something?  Should I run my long run this week or just stop running until Boston?  If I stop running will I be able to do all 26.2 in Boston?  What if I’m still hurting on race day?   What if I can’t run Boston?  What if I can but it’s just a horrible race day because I’m not physically ready? 

BLAH!  BLAH!  BLAH!   Right? 

I said “would normally be going on in my head” because thanks to our bible study I’ve really tried to focus on the fact that worry is a sin.  The opposite of trusting in God is… worry.  The bible is very clear on this topic:

1)  Matthew 6 :25 - Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

2)  Matthew 6:27 – Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

3)  Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. 

Yes, normally I would have let all these issues really take a toll on me but now when these thoughts start to creep into my mind I try to put them aside and simply give them to God in prayer.  It’s very freeing! 

I don’t know what God’s plan is for me on race day.  But like Niki and I have always said, our love of running isn’t about race day, it’s about the journey TO race day.   So if I get to Boston healthy, great.  If not, I can’t worry about it because God is in control, not me.  He, at times,  uses all kinds of suffering to refine and purify us and obviously I need a lot more work!  God’s plan is always perfect.  I trust Him.   J  Boston get ready, Niki and I are heading your way soon - healthy or not! 

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Some recent fun photos for you:  

Our recent March birthday celebration.  Each bday boy & girl had to wear a name tag with their age on it!  Oh yes, AND a silly birthday hat.  I love being the party planner. :)  

Me & Chalon.  Our name tags read:  It's NOT my birthday.  :(

It finally happened... I showed up at church in my workout clothes last Sunday!  After our 10 miler I threw on fresh running pants and top and made it to church just a few minutes late.  Unfortunately I was still sweating!   My favorite Church Greeter, Bill,  always says, "I thought you were going to wear your running clothes to church!"  Well, I finally did so I made him take his picture with me to prove it!