I Run: A Reflection-Goal 3!

So, I know I complained A LOT about my training schedule for this sprint triathlon, but really, now that it's over, part of me wishes I had the time to train for another one. The race day was a REALLY fun experience=)

Here's all the girls at 5am, Sunday, August 8th in front of the transition area, getting ready. (Left to Right: Aunt Debbie, April, Amy, me, my mom)

I can't tell you how proud of my mom I am. If I'm still willing to step out of my box and conquer a physical challenge like this in 21 years, I will consider myself following the example of a great woman.

April and I have done a lot of life together over the years. She has been my inspiration to get fit, and my #1 coach/encourager/physician through this whole year really. Especially for this race. She listened to me cry on the other end of a phone too often. Love her to death! Check out her blog for all the race details/specifics.

The swim was a little insane, and this picture a little embarrassing, but hey, love the skin your in, right? I finished the 400 yards in 8 minutes 23 seconds. Pretty darn good if I do say so myself. I was fortunate I didn't get disqualified for dunking people while they were trying to grab and drown me there at the end=)

The 13.1 bike ride was uneventful, and slightly discouraging as everyone flew past me on their road bikes. Definitely an investment I will be considering for my next race. But I finished at 57 minutes 38 seconds, so my goal was under an hour, so I was pleased.

Now it was time for my least favorite...the 5K run. And I will admit, I was struggling. I even had to relent and walk some of it...not much, but some because every time I tried to catch my breath, I would start to cough, and I could never get in a rhythm. Not to mention it was hot as blazes!!! There are small, inner parts of me that regret not being able to run the whole thing the entire time, but I guess that just gives me a goal for my next one, next year=) Still, 35 minutes and 51 seconds is not that far off from my 5K race time.

If you are ever in need of a picture of pure joy, these would be good ones. A finish line never looked so beautiful.

We did it! We all did it. Each of us had our own personal obstacles to overcome. Each of us had our own reasons for training and completing the race, but we did it. Together. It's actually a really cool event when you think about it. When you think about our ages (scrawled on the back of our calves), the point in our lives where each of us was racing from, the camaraderie that was shared by all. It was such a HUGE accomplishment for everyone. Well, maybe not April...she is the Fit Queen, but I think it meant a lot to her to do it with all of us too=)

And so it was over. Three long hard months of training six days a week ended in 1 hour 45 minutes and 41 seconds. I struggled for a bit there after. There was a sense of let down. Like, this is it? What next? For a moment, satan tried to steal my joy by whispering those not-so-innocent lies of, "That's it, huh? It's all downhill from here. What can you accomplish now compared to this?" LIES!

I found myself wallowing for a brief moment in time, listening to these lies. But was soon and quickly reminded that there's always more! God always has more! His challenges for this lifetime are endless. We, as a society, as a people, always want more. As with all things, this can be bad, but I'm learning it can be good too. When what you want more of is directed at things of God, at experiences that will draw you closer to Him, you find everything and all and more than you can even imagine.

A sprint triathlon is the least of my challenges God has left for me on this earth. Raising two godly children in a falling world ranks pretty darn close to impossible on some days. Staying faithfully committed to one man in a marriage that seeks to honor the Lord and lead by example is a goal that is attacked every day in some ways. Running this race for the glory of God, pointing others to Him, experiencing every challenge with the grit and determination it takes to finish the race, and finish well, and finish strong--these are the challenges that keep me going. This is the correlation I need to make to my running journey to keep me focused and alert and alive and living each day to see His holiness and goodness all around me. There will always be another challenge. There's always a race that needs to be run. The spark inside never has to die. God always has more.

When's your next race? And where will it be taking you?