For my 40th year on this planet I decided that I should do something out...of..the..ordinary...for...me! Turning 40 will do that for ya! Anyway......I decided back in December that as I approached another milestone in my life, I would do something different. SO, I returned to running. Although this time I had a whole new outlook on it. I have had some major accomplishments this past year, I returned to and finished school with my AA degree, graduating with that in December. I felt it only appropriate to mark the occassion of my approaching 40th Birthday with something else that would be a first for me.....running farther than I ever thought I could! So, I did. I started the week leading up to Christmas. (I know, bad timing huh?) But I thought that it would be good for me to be disciplined through the holidays...and I was.
Shortly after I started running I decided that I was going to look at it through a different set of eyes; deciding that I needed to view my journey as one of "how far can I go?"...rather than one of "how fast can I get to the point at which I can stop!" And, after all I'd finally finished something that had taken a very long time to do, my AA degree with my sights now set on my BS degree! I'll digress here for a moment and say.....I did this, even though I had to get through one last math class(which is not my thing and my last Algebra class was nearly 10 years ago)! Even though I had to suffer through two Anatomy and Physiology Classes with a professer who is himself an MD! (An Attorney, and a Medical Examiner AND Retired Navy Officer after 36 years! - C.A.N. Y.O.U. ...S.A.Y....O.V.E.R...A.C.H.I.E.V.E.R?!) Anyway, I do digress! I mention these things to say this, there were many times throughout this past year that the ugly head of "self-doubt" reared itself. I thought as I studied every single bone in the human body and had to remember it all on a test without any MATCHING sections that I could not do it....I should just quit! Afterall, why in the heck was I trying to finish my AA at my age!? What did it matter anyway?!
Then I decided that if I quit, I would just be doing what had gotten me in the same place where I sat; 20+ years out of high school and stilling trying to finish what I'd started way back then...SO I preserved....moved forward. Pushed my way through and guess what!? Not only did I make an A in both of my A&P classes but my grades were so good in A&P I that I was exempt from the final, and in A&P II I got an A as well...I did have to take the oral final with my teacher but got an A on that one too! Then it was on to Math...one last hurdle! There were times during that summer semester as well where the ugly head of fear and doubt reared itself.....BUT I preserved and on December 14, 2010 I earned my AA degree with a 3.87 GPA! (I had a 4.0 until my B in math...but what the heck, I finished) I was so excited and proud.....but I do have to stop here and say that without God and leaning on HIM as I worked to juggle a full-time job (as a supervisor with a large medical practice), full-time school, Coordinator of our nursery department at our church (which has a membership of over 600 total church members, not nursery members, but just the same, our church is pretty big for our little town) , and being a full-time Mom and Wife.....I could not have done any of this without the LORD! So as I moved toward 40 I thought that another milestone would be appropriate! So, I started running in December with a new outlook on it....and then this past Saturday, I ran the GATE RIVER RUN (Saturday, 3/12/2011!) I finished in just under 2 hours; 1:58:57 to be exact and I could not have felt better! I certainly was not the fastest but I kept reminding myself, "the tortoise beat the hare, afterall"...and all that really mattered was that I never gave up! It was an exhilarating day and an event of a lifetime! I was nervous going into it and wanted to be sure that I could do it without stopping, NO WALKING, I wanted to RUN the whole time.....
As I began to think about the event, pray about it and train for it, I knew, that IF I set my mind to do it, I COULD! I also thought of one of my favorite verses....Phillipians 4:13.....truth is, with Him all things are possible!
Of course there was a lot of praying throughout the run, prayer that I would not have to stop, prayer that I wouldn't twist my ankle; or because of all that water-drinking, prayer that I would NOT have to go the bathroom! Wouldn't that just be my luck, finally, a milestone day in my life and I have to stop because I have to use the port-a-pot! That would have been A.W.F.U.L! Anyway, thankfully, God was there with me the whole way, He pushed me onward and even at the bottom of the GREEN MONSTER - HE WAS THERE! We made it and I am so very thankful that He cares about even the small stuff...being able to say that I completed the Gate River Run with my Lord and Savior matters even to HIM.....THANK YOU LORD that I did it with you....To quote Jill, my friend and running extraordinaire....."There is no better running partner" and she is right! He is there each time I put on my running shoes....I have learned to rely on Him for many things throughout my life.....and I am thankful that each and every time I call on Him, He shows up! Even to run with me........
Thank you Lord for another year of life....my 40th year and thank you for always being there when I call YOU! You are an AWESOME GOD!
Till next time.......
Here is picture of the occassion...OH and I almost forgot...MAL ran with me the whole way too....He's not too bad a running partner either!! (Mal is actually the "runner" in this family but he stayed with me the whole time even though my miles are 11-12 minute ones and his are usually 8 minute ones...he slowed down to hang with me and I appreciate that more than words can say). Our GOD is awesome and I am thankful for a wonderful husband who ain't too bad either.....
It was a fabulous day! One I will NEVER forget!
This was taken after the run...I was still standing....I was grateful!
1 comment:
Lisa, I am SOOOO proud of you!! I am so sorry to just now be seeing this post (and therefore responding almost a month afterwards!!)! Way to go girl, you deserve to call yourself a runner-don't say Mal is the only runner in this deal, that's not the case at all! I do know the demands of life and juggling a "running schedule" in the midst of everything. Sometimes I've worried that it was selfish to spend the time away from the kids so I could run. But you know I've come to a new understanding- I am better at everything else when I am running regularly! Our children want us to be whole people, and therefore we need to schedule our lives as such! Awesome job my friend....keep on running and stay with your school work, you can never go wrong with an education. never. Hugs to you!
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