You see, running is a wonderful spectacular thing, and once you get through the hard part, the time spent while running is a time to spend on yourself, swimming in your own thoughts.
But falling out of the running streak is hard. It doesn't take much to fall out of routine running, and before you know it, running a mile feels a little like death.
I think that I love running so much because it is a lot like faith. I stumbled upon a blog today about being a beginner runner, and the entire time I kept thinking "Holy banana, this is what it is like to be a Christian"
The blog says:
""Stop fighting it!"
That's what a fellow marathoner yelled at me years ago in the middle of a very windy out-and-back marathon.
"Don't fight the wind, man," he said. "Wait until the turnaround, then pick up the pace when the wind is at your back."
The sheer simplicity of that advice! Until he mentioned it, I was dug in. Wind be damned, I was going to keep my pace or die trying. Thanks to that veteran marathoner's advice, I did neither. I ended up running a great race.
I've remembered his tip in every windy race and run since. That's the thing about a great piece of advice: Like a trusted friend, it'll always be there when you need it. Here are 100 more memorable running tips, gleaned from experts past and present."
Don't fight the wind. The world is going to throw a bunch of shenanigans at you, and you'll want to fight it. It's the natural human reaction. We want to keep our original pace and refuse to slow down. But guess what? That's not what God wants of you. Slow down, and stop fighting, or you'll wear yourself out. Before you know it, things will make a turn and the wind will be on your side, glorifying the God who created the wind, the race, and you.
We'll always have a portion of this race where the wind is pushing us back, but the fact of the matter is, is the wind will eventually be used to pull you forward. We'll always have trials and tribulations, but the truth is, is those circumstances will only bring you forward in life.
The blog then goes on to list out some tips for runners:
1. Accept the challenge
"Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not."
Everyone is human, some of us are choosing to learn, and some of us are not.
2. Shoot for this (at least)
"Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors."
Spending time with the Lord often significantly increases your spiritual capacity, and positively effects your relationship with Christ.
3. Be a minuteman
"The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments—1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles."
The biggest mistake that Christians make is they tend to think about how far they must come in their Christian walk. We must think in the time we spend with the Lord, not how far our walk has gone.
4. Take the "talk test"
"The 'talk test' means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner—but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera."
Have someone around to keep you accountable and ask the tough questions. Someone who knows where you're at in your walk with the Lord and knows how to challenge you, but not push you.
5. Listen to the rumbling
"If you feel like eating, eat. Let your body tell you what it wants."
If the Lord is putting something on your heart, do it. Let Him tell you what he wants.
6. Follow Road Rule Number One
"Running against traffic allows the runner to be in command. Anyone who is alert and agile should be able to stay alive."
Don't listen to the lies from the enemy, go against his lies. Anyone who is alert and agile should be able to stay alive.
7. Stay "liquid"
"Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate! In cold weather and warm. We use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs. I work all day at hydrating." —Dr. Alex Ratelle
Continue to let the Lord fill you up with His everlasting water. We use it for our every day lives, so work all day at letting Him pour into your spirit.
8. Think big...but carry a small eraser
"Brainstorm your training goals first, then write them down. Do this in pencil, so you can change some specifics when reality sets in."
Ultimately, the plans we set for ourselves are nothing in comparison to the plans God has for us.
9. Go with mind over grind
"Any idiot can train himself into the ground; the trick is doing the training that makes you gradually stronger."
Anyone can go through the motions and appear to be a Christian, the trick is following the Lord, and you'll gradually grow stronger.
10.Adapt—or weaken
"Running hills breaks up your rhythm and forces your muscles to adapt to new stresses. The result? You become stronger."
The trials of life may throw us off, we are either forced to weaken and collapse, or grow stronger.
As you can see... running is a lot like faith. There is more to it than what everyone believes.
Here is my hope: that we can all strive for a relationship with Christ. Without it, it makes running the race pointless. Without Him, there is no race. Without Him, we all finish last.
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