GIRLS ON THE GO HALF MARATHON - 9.22.13
The race started out fine. A little ahead of time actually. Cool, beautiful morning with a slight cloud covering of big puffy, misty clouds hanging over the mountains. I began the race at the front of the pack. It just turns out that as the 5k and 10k runners left the gate there I was at the starting line. There was only maybe 10-15 runners ahead of me and the ‘lead’ runner took off like a shot and we followed. Here’s where things started getting interesting and only continued throughout the entire course. The lead runner took a turn at a bridge off the path and like sheep, we all followed. As we got down the path a bit we looked back to see a sign that said “Half Marathon →” So we turned around and followed the sign which took us down through a parking lot, up a hill and circled us right back to where we missed the first turn off… oh, yeah… the one before the bridge! We weren't even supposed to turn towards the bridge let alone take the bridge! We saw runners on another path and had to come down a dirt embankment to get back on track. An extra mile later.
Everyone was confused and grumbling and getting angry and I started to say something to the lady next to me about how ridiculous this was and I got ‘God Smacked.’ Instantly I was filled with the notion that life’s gonna throw us off course but how do we react to it? Would I react like Julie? Would I handle it with grace? I smiled… giggled a little… felt a little choked up and said.. “OK, God. I hear You.”
Once back on the right path the course took us towards the water. I had to smile again. The sun was just coming up over the mountains and breaking through the clouds and steam was rising from the water. It was beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I ran alongside the water and the song on my playlist was the perfect accompaniment: “Relentless.” Your love is relentless, God. I got a huge rush and just breathed it in and enjoyed it.
A little further along the course, at about the mile 2 marker, (which was actually already mile 3 for me and LOTS of other ladies) a gentleman stood on the course and directed the pack off the path and up a dirt embankment! What?! I didn’t know this was going to be a trail run! Again.. God Smacked. “I’m going to show you a little of Julie’s journey,” He said. I felt a lump in my throat. “Ok, God.”
The turn up the dirt path was a steep incline and I had to stop to walk. I couldn’t run up it. It was a little too ‘loose.’ The dirt hill turned into a rugged, rocky path and took us back off into a path through the trees and even across a creek that we had to traverse slippery little stepping stones to get across! Ladies were grumbling and complaining about how crazy this course was and I just had to giggle.
Once out of the trees and off the dirt path we were back onto the pavement and began a meandering of turns and switch backs through parking lots, camp grounds and back roads away from the lake. On my way back at about mile 9 or so, I saw the 'lead' runner heading back towards me. I pulled out an ear bud and asked her "Do we have to turn and come back again?!" She said she wasn't sure. There was a confusing sign up ahead and she wasn't sure which way to go and that she was 'just done.' She was heading back. She was quitting. My heart sank. The course was poorly marked; some of the turns were confusing and several times it was unclear which way to go. I just kept running. I wasn’t going to stop and I wasn’t going to give up. Sure, I was confused a few times but I just kept going. I was running for Julie and I wanted to have a good attitude about it and I wanted to try and keep a good pace.When it was all said and done, I had run 14.2 miles. I literally ran “the extra mile.’ I was tired and my legs were getting sore and fatigued. The last half mile I broke down a little and cried for a bit, but shook it off, put my head down, put one foot in front of the other and kept going until I crossed the finish line. My time was terrible as far as my Half Marathon best goes, but it doesn't matter. The time wasn't important. The journey was.
I came away with a few lessons today. One…is be careful what you commit to. I committed to completing this run for Julie and God took that as opportunity to show me a tiny bit of her journey. Life is going to give me obstacles, and detours. I’m going to go down rocky, unstable paths. There will be some slippery rocks along the way. But how will I handle it? Will my attitude be that like Julie’s? Will I handle it with grace? Without grumbling and bitterness? Will I see the blessings in the challenge and will I enjoy the journey even if it’s not the easy one? Another thing that stood out to me was the metaphor of the cloud covering and the meandering away from the water and back again. The cloud cover kept the temperature cool and the moisture up. Along the way, the course took us away from the lake and down some uncertain paths, but every time I got back on the paved path that followed the shore of the lake, I knew I was on the ‘right’ path.
God is funny, isn't He? I didn't ask Him to take me on this journey, but I had unknowingly committed to it by deciding to run for Julie today. A verse came to mind several times on the course: “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” That is my wish. Let me continue to run the race God has set before me, but most importantly, let me do it with grace and dignity. Let me live my life in such a way that others don’t see me as a complainer or a grumbler. Let me have a good attitude in all things. Let me cover all things in love. Let others see me as one who operates in Love. “…if I have not love, I am nothing.” 1Cor 13:2
Ridiculously AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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