It's Just me, V

When I first started running – I had no clue of what I was doing. I had probably the wrong shoes, the wrong attire – all I knew, is that I loved the way it felt to finish one mile, then 2 miles, and oh my goodness, 6 miles! I had ear buds in to listen to music, then I learned to run with out the need for music pumping through my head – my body and nature made a “music” of it’s own. The rhythmic crunching of the ground beneath my feet mixed with the sounds of birds singing away and the occasional scratching of an animal in some brush (which always startles me), my furry pal next to me, and sometimes the giggles of my run buddies along with me for some miles makes for this peaceful and lively emotion that I can draw from all day.

Now, years have passed since I first began this journey to running happiness. I have learned what shoes work for me, what the proper running attire can do for the run and recovery, and so much about nutrition and hydration. I have gone for runs when I am happy, I have run when I am angry, I have run to remember and trying to forget. I will run in any weather (although this winter I have become a bit of a fair weather runner) with and with out music. One thing that I have discovered is that my relationship with God has become closer with running. I do run on my own a lot. And when I do, the birds singing, the crunch of my feet, the feel of my heart beating are all accompanied by conversations with Him. I tell Him all of my worries and celebrations, I talk to Him about my lost loved ones, and the ones that I love and worry about here with me. I have always believed, just wasn’t ever sure how to “pray” – being raised Catholic, I was taught to recite all of the prayers and when to stand up, sit down, and kneel, but never really how to “pray”. Strange how something like falling in love with a sport like running has brought me to an understanding all on my own. I can just “talk to God” and I know that He hears, it doesn’t have to be the same thing that everyone else is saying, and He hears us all.

Isaiah 40:31 – but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

When I think of this verse, I feel powerful. When I feel that I am tired, I know that I have it in me to push forward. I reference this verse when ever I am feeling like I need a pep talk. It is sort of my anthem. I know that I can keep moving forward when I am weary, I can run through it, I know that I can fly. Nothing is impossible.

While I have been training mostly alone (with the company of Winky the Wonder Pup) so far this year, I have really come to a peaceful place within myself. I wish that everyone can experience these emotions I have as I conquer a hill, or long distance, or cross a finish line – I know that everyone has feelings of elation at different times, but how wonderful would it be to really share these feelings with each other. I guess that is why I always go back to Isaiah 40:31 – I can feel that flying. On Sunday, I am looking forward to having that feeling once again by completing the Prairie Dog 1/2 marathon with my husband. Slow and steady, but we will “fly” over that finish line – together.

Stay strong and remember to always move forward, who knows, maybe you will even fly!