It is my dream to do a 50K this year. I found one for October but with our child’s school concert, signing up won’t be happening. She only has three concerts left and next year she will be in college.
So, last week I was able to run my first 50K . It was enough to make me happy. The plan was to get 20 Miles. I started on the road, but as soon as the fog cleared out I headed into the woods. I skipped the trail that leads to the deepest part of the forest. It creeps me out being there without the sight of the road down below or the glistening sign of the lake. I won’t mind if I have company but working nightshift and not having a regular schedule is hard for me to make arrangements for.
It was challenging. I thought of my running friends who worked/ing so hard for their goals and achievements. I thought of Christ’s forty days and forty nights in the desert. I am not Him but for one day, with hydration and nutrition, the faith and courage, I knew I could make it. I thought of my Dad, that day was his 16th death anniversary. I couldn’t dedicate that 50k challenge for him because deep inside of me, the struggle and testing was purposely intended for myself. I thought of my husband on how he could easily picked me up if I ran on the road. It was hard. I started listening to music which lessened the misery and helped me to keep going. I also thought of how hikers get lost and not found. Could it be from disorientation or hallucination resulting from dehydration and hunger? I talked to myself too as a self check, “The leaves are green and some are yellow”, “It’s a stick, not a snake!” “Those are roots, not snakes.”
I got done at 32 Miles in less than 8 hours. As soon as I reached my car, I sat down (my legs and body were shaking) and took a few selfies, grabbed a drink and a handful of candy, called home to let them know I was done and ordered pizza so I could pick it up on my way home, and drove off…. then I realized I forgot to stop my watch. I don’t like it when I do that especially for my first ever longest distance. I wanted to keep the exact record. Thankfully, I captured my watch (during selfies) that shows its time and distance I finished.
Until now, I am finding it crazy how I resorted to running for mental/overall health but then tired myself out physically and mentally. I know fellow runners understand what I mean. I think we are just a bunch of weirdos.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Romans 5:3-4
Jotting Down Grace 