Forward is still Forward

 

From Crawling to running, there is PROGRESS! 

I am on track with my training, but not because I powered through... Apparently, I am not good at reading a training plan, I mistakenly calculated a week wrong in my favor! 

I spent way too much time staring at the plan, the calendar and counting weeks. I was erasing, rewriting, revisiting and feeling like my brains were about to explode in confusion. Confusion turned to disbelief then disbelief turned to joy. 

"You are going to be fine in 4 weeks..." I heard echoing from each professional I saw and as I recalibrated my plan I was grinning with gratitude. I wanted to hand out high fives to all of them at that moment. 

More than that, I am standing in humble posture, recognizing that the Lord is restoring me, slowly, in His timing, intentionally, and far better than I would have scripted. 

I am choosing to honor the slow healing with encouragement for the little things. The little things are adding up one mile at a time. 

This Weekend Proved That

I got my long run in: 19 miles Saturday, 12 miles Sunday, and I started this week with 13 trail miles. My body held together better than duct tape. I held my thoughts captive convincing myself of positivity and self-discipline.  Every mile I wanted to dance as much as I was running to celebrate! 

 THE LONG RUN: Two stupid things in one day!

Saturdays long run had a deadline because I was scheduled for a 1pm Polar Plunge supporting Special Olympics. I wanted 19-20 miles before I jumped in the icy lake I showed up early at the Moose Lodge to start my run and a friend would join me in the stupid decisions for the back half of my run and the plunge. 

It was 19', the roads barely had a shoulder to run, and the sky was bright blue, but the cold was bitter. But somehow the cocktail worked, I ran rather comfortable. I was mostly excited that I made it through 19 outdoor miles without freezing or getting hit by a car. 

So, the outdoor miles and jumping in a lake wearing a bright orange TUTU might not be on most people's list for the day, or maybe even lifetime but I was actually secretly excited about both of them. 

And the Polar Plunge had crazy energy and hype. And if I am being honest, it was actually a lot of fun and I didn't die. The water was over my head, but it was actually WARMER than the outdoor air! 

I got to run all over again the next day at Indian Springs with 7 incredible women. Most of them are like me, over 50 and still trying to compete with our younger selves. We laughed, encouraged one another, listened, cut up and just enjoyed playing outside together. 

RUNDOWN:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

MONDAY: The run I feared. 

Today was a run I had been avoiding for 2 weeks, TRAILS. 

I knew I had to get back on the trails, but I had a dozen excuses that I needed to combat. 

The trails at Holly Rec, Wilderness trail a rolling 6-mile loop. I had convinced myself it was going to be disaster. Funny how our minds hijack us into defeat before we even start.

I had to take several thoughts captive. Flip the script. Override the lies. Even at 52, with insecurities that try to settle in, I had to battle not to listen. 

"Take every thought captive to obey Christ..." 2 Cor. 10:5

I am who He says I am. 

And it couldn't have been more perfect. 13 miles. 6 with a friend, seven solo. Strong. Steady. Free. 

When my run becomes a crawl...Or when life becomes a crawl, we remind ourselves: 

FORWARD is still FORWARD. 

The Lord wants to do a work in us, but he also wants us to do some work also. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am so grateful He trusts me to do it. 

Slow healing. BIG joy. God is Faithful. Day by Day. Mile by Mile. 

Special THANK YOU to Sailfish Pools and Parkers Hilltop for generous donations. And thank you to ALL who donated to me for Special Olympics. 

In Peace, Not Pieces,

Anita