Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Hebrews 12:1
In January 2010, I decided I was going to run a marathon. Now, at the time, I could not even run a full mile. I had to walk about half of it. But I operate better if I have a goal, and usually it has to be a radical goal – hence, the marathon. I lived in DC at the time and started researching the Marine Corps Marathon. It is first come first served, but if you run a 10K on the Marine Base a few months before the registration date, you get early access. So I started training for a 10K, and honestly, it was one the most amazing races…even better than the marathon. At the time, I was probably running 14 minutes a mile during training, and I had to finish the 10K in 12 minutes a mile to get the early registration. I showed up basically hoping I could eke it out. During the race, I thought I was running so slowly because all the people were passing me…although, it needs to be pointed out, a majority of those people were Marines. I finished the race in exactly 60 minutes, which means I was running at 10 minutes a mile – the fastest I have run for any long distance to this day. It inspired HUGE confidence that I could actually finish the marathon in the required time.
Come October 31, 2010, that’s exactly what I did. During the marathon, I learned the importance of training on hills. I lived in the middle of hills, so the only way to run around my neighborhood was to run up and down large hills. When we got to a small hill during the race, several people couldn’t believe how hard it was to run up a hill, but it was easy for me…because I had practiced so many times on much larger hills. I finished in the required time, but learned that all the perks like massages and food go to those people who finish quickly, not to those who took six hours, lol. But, I was so proud of myself and so grateful for the opportunity.
Fast forward ten years: I moved from DC to Denver to San Francisco. I got married and had three kids. I had hard pregnancies and gained a lot of weight over the time. And we are under quarantine. The first month was mostly survival, figuring out what our new life looked like. When we realized this was for the long haul, someone at work added a challenge to Nike Run Club that anyone could join: run/jog/walk 50 miles between April 15th and May 31st. I knew that’s what I needed. Some accountability. A goal. And I joined. Right back where I was in January 2009. I couldn’t finish a 1.5 mile run without walking. But I remembered how perseverance paid off. On April 15th, I ran one mile. It took me 16 minutes, and I thought I was going to die. But I kept going. I planned to run four times a week until June 1st. I was going to reach 50 miles.
Time for an aside: I work full time, and I have three children. There is NO WAY I would be able to run four times a week without the TONS of help that I have. We have a nanny who keeps the kids while I work during the day. My dear mother-in-law does most of the cooking and dishes in our house. On the mornings that I run, Afa keeps the kids so that I’m not trying to workout with three kids (which I have done…just not as effectively, as one might imagine.) I have a tribe, without which I would literally be drowning.
Back to the story: At one point, Ana Lia decided she wanted to go with me, so I let her ride her bike while I ran. She is an excellent pacer. I was running about 15:45/mile by myself. With her riding her bike ahead of me, I ran that day at 15:10. This was so helpful because it showed me that I could run faster. She goes with me about two days a week now. Eliam also wanted to go with me, so I let him one time. He is much younger (and more distractible), so that was a much slower run. But I have to remember my purpose. It is disciple, wife, mom…in that order. So, while I am so grateful for the days I can run alone, I also choose to cherish the days my kids are with me. It is an opportunity to demonstrate so many important lessons: perseverance, patience, healthy habits. It builds my relationship with each of them individually, and that is always one of my top goals as a mom.
I signed up to run the SF Marathon on November 15th, which was subsequently canceled due to coronavirus. But I run four days a week. On September 5th, I ran a half marathon with some dear friends from church. We thought we were going to run it at 14:30/mile, which we did for about nine miles. Then we walked the last four. At 12 miles, we passed some picnic tables, and I wanted to sit down and quit…thankfully, Kelsey wouldn’t let me, and we finished the whole 13.1 miles that day!
I run because I enjoy it. It also helps with my anxiety. These days I run early in the morning before I read my Bible. It actually makes my time with God better. It releases the nervous energy that sometimes can hinder me focusing on the Bible or on prayer. I’m grateful to God for the strength to be able to still run, and for the amazing people in my life who make it possible.
