Aren’t we all really dealing with the same “stuff”? Not enough time in the day, a never-ending to-do list, perpetual exhaustion. We’re all running a race. Life’s race requires endurance, perseverance and hope.
If I had been asked at ANY point in my life before the fall of 2016 if I would ever run any real distance and enjoy doing it, I would have laughed and laughed and then laughed some more. Truly, it all started with a plea: “We need teams of runners to raise money for research…..The Shamrock Shuffle is only an 8k (4.97 miles)…..You’ve got months to train…..Anyone can do it.”
So, like any rational human being in a weak moment, I signed up for the free tshirt (ha!). I truly don’t remember now how HARD the day-to-day training felt from the end of December to March, but know that this Type-A extreme rule follower faithfully adhered to the guidance of the running app. Not a single workout was missed, FOR REAL. I was at the gym 4-5 days a week, alternating weight training and building up my running distance. It was hard work, but the end goal kept me motivated.
I was able to complete the race (March 2017) with no walking and at a decent total time. But more importantly, the nine friends on our SamJo Buddies team far exceeded our fundraising goal and celebrated over $14,000 raised to hopefully help one day end Duchenne.
A month after the Shamrock Shuffle I found myself looking for a bigger challenge. Why not a half marathon? I suckered my friend, Angela, into signing up in May for the race to be held April 2018. Eleven months to train, we’ve got this!
Over the course of several months, I spend time building up my mileage. Meanwhile, Angela dealt with a plethora of medical ailments, pain and swelling in her legs and incomplete diagnoses. There were many missed workouts, some illnesses. I wasn’t sure my workout buddy was going to be able to do much more than cheer from the sidelines.
Race day felt good for me, and Angela was by my side at the start line. We parted ways and wished each other luck. After finishing, I waited at the bleachers for her to “not be last and not die” (her words, not mine!) A combination of running/walking got the job done and I cried tears of joy for her as she crossed the finish line. I’m not a crier, everyone who knows me knows that – but she was in pain and I knew the monumental task of completing 13.1 miles was so difficult for her both physically and mentally. I was, and am, so proud of what we both had accomplished.
Endurance is “the power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way”. A half marathon requires endurance. Raising children requires endurance. Going to a job every day, whether you love it or not, requires endurance. Any aspect of life requires a measure of endurance.
Hebrews 12:1-2 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, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let us look to Jesus.
This is one of the proudest moments of my life, and I was able to share it with one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I completed the Naperville Women’s Half Marathon (my first half) on April 22, 2018 in 2:10:19 (19 seconds over my goal time of 2:10).
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