"The mind has to direct the body. Discipline your mind and the body will follow." So simple yet so true and packet with wisdom.
I read this today and boy was it Gods timing. I have had a rough week of running. I realized talking to a friend the other day that probably every day I said "ugh I don't feel like running today" then I would go on a run and it was horrible. I was tired and my legs felt week.
So whats the problem.. I realized it today that my mind is the problem. Truth be told that I have made some mistakes the past few weeks that have affected my training.
1. Focused on the weight and the scale.
2. Lacked the discipline in staying away from some sweets
3. Became complacent
4. And the biggest one yet.. I left God out of the training!
And I am not just speaking in my physical training. My reading has been off, my devotion is lacking. I am outta wack because I am out of touch. I am focusing to much on my body and it is impossible to achieve my results if my mind isn't into it.
Thank God for new days.. The cool thing is that there is only one step to getting back on track... Discipline the mind! Would you pray for me, I could surely use it. It appears that my feet are starting to feel the effects of my training, I am now nursing a heal pain and some ingrown toe nails ... I know right :( No pain no gain :)
Thank you.. love you all!!!!
p.s...I have no idea why I have the sudden urge to sing en vogues "free your mind" hahah
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I do my best, God does the rest!
I told a friend the other day that I don't have it all together ,but I have a God who does. And for me that is all that matters!
Wow I had no idea how hard it would be to train for this half marathon. It seemed that finding time to run before I signed up was great but once I submitted that registration it went all down hill from there. Ok so I am being a little dramatic, but the truth be told, it has been tough. The last few weeks have been busy and trying to break away has been even tougher.
Although I am fully supported by my hubby, the guilty mom syndrome kicks in when I leave to run and the boys are just not wanting to cooperate with daddy. Walking out the door while Caleb is crying and Noah is running around the house, I feel bad leaving my husband who has been at work all day.
The other night, I was on the treadmill and doubt start to fuel my mind. What am I trying to prove, why did I sign up to do a run, why was I being selfish with time away from the family. All the whys and what was the purpose. I ran and it was a good run but went to bed feeling defeated. The next day I got on the treadmill and started to thinking about how I was training alone. Time and schedules doesn't permit me to join a group or set up a good running time with a friend.
I started to praying because I felt "disconnected" I felt like I was doing things all wrong. I felt like at the end of some days, I have just did enough to get through the day and nothing more. It was then that I realized that it was ok not to have it all together because God does.
Although I don't have a running group or buddy, I have Jesus. He is the best trainer anyone could have. I don't train like I should, I don't do alot of things the way I should, but I keep focus on the prize and continue to press on. I do my best and let God do the rest!
I have openly admitted that I am NOT a runner. I had NO desire to run but I know why God has placed this new desire within me. This journey of running has been revealing so much about myself to me. It is exposing, plucking, pruning and with every hill I climb and mile I run it is milestones for me.
The enemy doesn't want me to run. He doesn't want me to succeed. He does not want me healthy. Why because all glory goes to God. Remember I don't have it all together but my God does. Every thing that I accomplish I do because He is the driving force. I am weak but He is strong. If He can do this for me... He can do this for you!
Running to win~
Moni
Wow I had no idea how hard it would be to train for this half marathon. It seemed that finding time to run before I signed up was great but once I submitted that registration it went all down hill from there. Ok so I am being a little dramatic, but the truth be told, it has been tough. The last few weeks have been busy and trying to break away has been even tougher.
Although I am fully supported by my hubby, the guilty mom syndrome kicks in when I leave to run and the boys are just not wanting to cooperate with daddy. Walking out the door while Caleb is crying and Noah is running around the house, I feel bad leaving my husband who has been at work all day.
The other night, I was on the treadmill and doubt start to fuel my mind. What am I trying to prove, why did I sign up to do a run, why was I being selfish with time away from the family. All the whys and what was the purpose. I ran and it was a good run but went to bed feeling defeated. The next day I got on the treadmill and started to thinking about how I was training alone. Time and schedules doesn't permit me to join a group or set up a good running time with a friend.
I started to praying because I felt "disconnected" I felt like I was doing things all wrong. I felt like at the end of some days, I have just did enough to get through the day and nothing more. It was then that I realized that it was ok not to have it all together because God does.
Although I don't have a running group or buddy, I have Jesus. He is the best trainer anyone could have. I don't train like I should, I don't do alot of things the way I should, but I keep focus on the prize and continue to press on. I do my best and let God do the rest!
I have openly admitted that I am NOT a runner. I had NO desire to run but I know why God has placed this new desire within me. This journey of running has been revealing so much about myself to me. It is exposing, plucking, pruning and with every hill I climb and mile I run it is milestones for me.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1
Hebrews 12:1
The enemy doesn't want me to run. He doesn't want me to succeed. He does not want me healthy. Why because all glory goes to God. Remember I don't have it all together but my God does. Every thing that I accomplish I do because He is the driving force. I am weak but He is strong. If He can do this for me... He can do this for you!
Running to win~
Moni
Friday, June 10, 2011
The 3 type of runners
Today I am going to talk about three type of runners. And whether you like it or not we all fall into one category. This small piece is actually taken out of a study/ devotion I did, but I will somewhat summarize it for today entry.
Here are your runners:
1. One who starts the race and doesn't finish.
2. One who starts the race just finishes ( not necessarily well)
3. One who starts the race and finishes well
Lets talk about the first runner. In 1946 Florence Chadwick a English swimmer who swam the English canal wanted to swim from Catalina to the shore of long beach. On a dark, foggy night she set out to swim the 26 miles that had never been done. After 15 hours of swimming, she looked up and could not see the shore line, tired and now doubting her abilities she was asked to be taken out of the water. After many pleas and unable to encourage her to continue to swim, she was pulled out of the water placed in the boat, and they continued on and sadly hitting the shore line a mile later.
This is a picture of someone who is running, while on course the trials or pressure become to great. Or tiredness overcomes them and they start to doubt their faith, or trust. This person looks ahead and cannot see changing of circumstances and gives up.
The next runner reminds me of my friends dad. He signed up to do the LA Marathon. He wasn't a runner and you would think that signing up for such an event he would train properly. Well wrong! He just should up the day of the marathon to run and guess what he finished. It took him about 7 hours but the man finished his race. Unfortunately the lack of training caused him to mess up his knees really bad. It was so bad he was off work for a long time and with the potential to one day have surgery.
Now you probably thinking, ok well at least he finished. He is a runner who was not prepared for his race. He didn't train, and although he finished he had consequence that could have been avoided. We need to be prayed up, read up , fellowshiped up that when our course gets tough we are ready to handle the tough terrain. It doesn't mean your course will be easier, but I guarantee that instead of injury there will be growth, hope and blessings.
Lastly the runner who finishes and finishes well. In 2004 The Boston Red Sox found themselves in the second round of the playoffs down to the NY Yankees. They were in game four down three games and also down 4-3 in the game. It was the ninth inning and a out away of being eliminated, they rallied to not only win the game in the twelfth inning but they won the next series and went on to win the world series.
Here is a picture of a team who could have saw their bleak circumstances and doubt their abilities to throw in the towel. I mean who wouldn't right? Even the sports commentators where calling the game saying it was impossible to come back. But against all odds this team relied on what they knew had faith and continued to press on.
Hey listen we are all running, we started to run the day we were born. I ask you where are you on your course? Are you still running? Have you started and quit? If so put on your shoes and get back on course it is never to late. Jesus always gives you a chance to come back. Like a physical course the spiritual race of faith also has peaks and valleys. Some miles are harder than other but don't quit keep running.
Perhaps you are still running, but just that you have no purpose or motivation. You lack vision and you are just going through the motions. You haven't read, you haven't prayed etc. Today is the day, today is the day that you start to train harder so that you can be a better athlete. It is much easier when you are better equipped or spiritual in shape to run your course. Their are blessing waiting for you.
Are you running and running well. Perhaps you have mastered your pace? You are that runner that the day you finish your race you will stand before the Lord and He will put a crown on your head and say " you have finished well." If so then help those who are struggling to train. Mentor those who need a coach and be there when they need someone to run with. Push them when they hit that mental wall. Be a light , be like Jesus!
Here are your runners:
1. One who starts the race and doesn't finish.
2. One who starts the race just finishes ( not necessarily well)
3. One who starts the race and finishes well
Lets talk about the first runner. In 1946 Florence Chadwick a English swimmer who swam the English canal wanted to swim from Catalina to the shore of long beach. On a dark, foggy night she set out to swim the 26 miles that had never been done. After 15 hours of swimming, she looked up and could not see the shore line, tired and now doubting her abilities she was asked to be taken out of the water. After many pleas and unable to encourage her to continue to swim, she was pulled out of the water placed in the boat, and they continued on and sadly hitting the shore line a mile later.
This is a picture of someone who is running, while on course the trials or pressure become to great. Or tiredness overcomes them and they start to doubt their faith, or trust. This person looks ahead and cannot see changing of circumstances and gives up.
The next runner reminds me of my friends dad. He signed up to do the LA Marathon. He wasn't a runner and you would think that signing up for such an event he would train properly. Well wrong! He just should up the day of the marathon to run and guess what he finished. It took him about 7 hours but the man finished his race. Unfortunately the lack of training caused him to mess up his knees really bad. It was so bad he was off work for a long time and with the potential to one day have surgery.
Now you probably thinking, ok well at least he finished. He is a runner who was not prepared for his race. He didn't train, and although he finished he had consequence that could have been avoided. We need to be prayed up, read up , fellowshiped up that when our course gets tough we are ready to handle the tough terrain. It doesn't mean your course will be easier, but I guarantee that instead of injury there will be growth, hope and blessings.
Lastly the runner who finishes and finishes well. In 2004 The Boston Red Sox found themselves in the second round of the playoffs down to the NY Yankees. They were in game four down three games and also down 4-3 in the game. It was the ninth inning and a out away of being eliminated, they rallied to not only win the game in the twelfth inning but they won the next series and went on to win the world series.
Here is a picture of a team who could have saw their bleak circumstances and doubt their abilities to throw in the towel. I mean who wouldn't right? Even the sports commentators where calling the game saying it was impossible to come back. But against all odds this team relied on what they knew had faith and continued to press on.
Hey listen we are all running, we started to run the day we were born. I ask you where are you on your course? Are you still running? Have you started and quit? If so put on your shoes and get back on course it is never to late. Jesus always gives you a chance to come back. Like a physical course the spiritual race of faith also has peaks and valleys. Some miles are harder than other but don't quit keep running.
Perhaps you are still running, but just that you have no purpose or motivation. You lack vision and you are just going through the motions. You haven't read, you haven't prayed etc. Today is the day, today is the day that you start to train harder so that you can be a better athlete. It is much easier when you are better equipped or spiritual in shape to run your course. Their are blessing waiting for you.
Are you running and running well. Perhaps you have mastered your pace? You are that runner that the day you finish your race you will stand before the Lord and He will put a crown on your head and say " you have finished well." If so then help those who are struggling to train. Mentor those who need a coach and be there when they need someone to run with. Push them when they hit that mental wall. Be a light , be like Jesus!
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. "
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Praying that we are running to win!
Moni
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A heavy heart!- Pray
Tonight's blog was supposed to be about the different types of runners but I feel compelled to just share my heart. And Lord only knows how it is going to come out. This week has been so rough. Finding time for me has been hard. I have had sinus issues and have this headache that wont go away and because I nurse cant take anything.
The last thing I feel like doing right now is running. I am feeling rather discouraged and not sure why. The boys have been extra cranky and the hubby has been busy preparing teachings and being at the church. The days are long and the nights fly when it is my me time.
Today as I looked over facebook, I was reminded of how my little issues are mole hills compared to some of the issues facing people tonight. In my feed where pleads of prayer for six year old Elias who is battling cancer, the husband and children of the Andrews family who is about to lose their mom and wife at any moment, the Juarez family as the await MRI scans to reveal what I gather if cancer is back with Millie, and I have in my inbox right now three private request for similar or heavy issues.
I am not sure who reads this blog, if anyone will but I ask that if you do tonight please keep these people and the others as well in your prayers. I dont know some of these people but Jesus does. I know my God is a big God and tonight although my heart is heavy I hold onto His promises.
Oh Jesus please touch these people and the many more battling, let it be your will and not ours, and give us understanding. And like Pastor Pancho said tonight please keep us focused on what we do know and not worry about the unknown. Be with those that are fighting for their marriages, free those from mental oppression and help us to focus on you! In your name Amen!!!
"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right and His ears are open to their prayers." 1 Peter 3:12 NLT
Thank you for allowing my to share my heart. I love you all, I really do..
Moni
The last thing I feel like doing right now is running. I am feeling rather discouraged and not sure why. The boys have been extra cranky and the hubby has been busy preparing teachings and being at the church. The days are long and the nights fly when it is my me time.
Today as I looked over facebook, I was reminded of how my little issues are mole hills compared to some of the issues facing people tonight. In my feed where pleads of prayer for six year old Elias who is battling cancer, the husband and children of the Andrews family who is about to lose their mom and wife at any moment, the Juarez family as the await MRI scans to reveal what I gather if cancer is back with Millie, and I have in my inbox right now three private request for similar or heavy issues.
I am not sure who reads this blog, if anyone will but I ask that if you do tonight please keep these people and the others as well in your prayers. I dont know some of these people but Jesus does. I know my God is a big God and tonight although my heart is heavy I hold onto His promises.
Oh Jesus please touch these people and the many more battling, let it be your will and not ours, and give us understanding. And like Pastor Pancho said tonight please keep us focused on what we do know and not worry about the unknown. Be with those that are fighting for their marriages, free those from mental oppression and help us to focus on you! In your name Amen!!!
"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right and His ears are open to their prayers." 1 Peter 3:12 NLT
Thank you for allowing my to share my heart. I love you all, I really do..
Moni
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Its a marathon not a race - part two
So lets talk about long distance (or Marathon) running vs. short distance ( or race). There are two components to long distance running, cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Resilience (this is your muscle and skeleton ability to bounce back).
In a short race its fast and you need the ability to get oxygen from the atmosphere to your mitochondria ( these are "power house cells" and their main function is to produce energy) as fast as possible.
As a race distance increases you are putting more emphasis on your Musculoskeletal Resilience factor than your cardiovascular. You are going to relying more on your muscle and bones. Now in a long distance run you need need the ability to tolerate compressive and ground reaction forces on your Musculoskletal system. Typically you will feel the stress in your joints and muscles by the sixth miles.
Ok so now how do I apply this to me? Glad you asked... Remember life is not a race it is a marathon.
I joked with a sister and said that everyone is a runner. This is true, we are all running in some way whether you like it or not. How you run your race is up to you. Approach it like a race and you get burned out and possibly quit. Faith will probably get you to about the fifth mile. True authentic faith is the faith you need to go the distance. It is the faith that runs deeper, it is the Musculoskeletal Resilience that goes beyond the mitochondria.
It has been said that "faith is like a muscle the more it is exercised the stronger it gets." A marathon course is no different from our course in life. There are times we are running up hills, and there are times when the pavement is flat. I know that any hill behind me makes me stronger for the next hill. when I hit the flat pavement I rejoice but maintain a steady pace because I know that soon I will be running another hill.
Unlike a "earthly marathon", we will not pass the finish line till the day we are in the presence of Jesus. When we come face to face with him and he puts a crown on our head and say.........
What will he say about your race? You finished well? You barely finished? Or Wow, I thought you would never finish? What type of runner are you? There are three types of runners. One that starts a race and doesn't finish, one that starts and just finishes and one that starts and finishes well. I will talk about those runners tomorrow!!!!
Running to win!
Mon
In a short race its fast and you need the ability to get oxygen from the atmosphere to your mitochondria ( these are "power house cells" and their main function is to produce energy) as fast as possible.
As a race distance increases you are putting more emphasis on your Musculoskeletal Resilience factor than your cardiovascular. You are going to relying more on your muscle and bones. Now in a long distance run you need need the ability to tolerate compressive and ground reaction forces on your Musculoskletal system. Typically you will feel the stress in your joints and muscles by the sixth miles.
Ok so now how do I apply this to me? Glad you asked... Remember life is not a race it is a marathon.
I joked with a sister and said that everyone is a runner. This is true, we are all running in some way whether you like it or not. How you run your race is up to you. Approach it like a race and you get burned out and possibly quit. Faith will probably get you to about the fifth mile. True authentic faith is the faith you need to go the distance. It is the faith that runs deeper, it is the Musculoskeletal Resilience that goes beyond the mitochondria.
It has been said that "faith is like a muscle the more it is exercised the stronger it gets." A marathon course is no different from our course in life. There are times we are running up hills, and there are times when the pavement is flat. I know that any hill behind me makes me stronger for the next hill. when I hit the flat pavement I rejoice but maintain a steady pace because I know that soon I will be running another hill.
Unlike a "earthly marathon", we will not pass the finish line till the day we are in the presence of Jesus. When we come face to face with him and he puts a crown on our head and say.........
What will he say about your race? You finished well? You barely finished? Or Wow, I thought you would never finish? What type of runner are you? There are three types of runners. One that starts a race and doesn't finish, one that starts and just finishes and one that starts and finishes well. I will talk about those runners tomorrow!!!!
Running to win!
Mon
Friday, June 3, 2011
Its a marathon not a race part 1
Definitions:
Race- The act of running, contest of speed, A raid or strong current of water flowing through a narrow channel
Marathon- Long distance race, an endurance contest
Today I was doing some research on training for a half marathon and I realized that I am training wrong. You see training for a 5k and training for a marathon is totally different. I have been running like it is a race and after about the fourth mile I start to burn out and my legs start to feel weak!
The way to train for a long run or marathon is to start off slow, maintain a steady pace and occasionally walking if needed. As I ran today differently, I began to see the parallel to the race of faith or our walk with Jesus. Sometimes we forget that we are in a marathon and we run like we are in a race.
As I mentioned above it is suggested in your first marathon that you take little walk breaks, this is help to recover and give you that short rest that you need to continue running. This was surprising to me because I had put the pressure not to walk at all and that is a problem. Sometimes Jesus wants us to slow down or walk if you will, but we have these expectations of what we should or need to do and we run ahead of Him.
I remember my first 5k when the gun went off the adrenaline kicked in and I was gone. I was not maintaining my usual pace and I was hurting by the time I got to mile 2. Thank God I was running with a friend that pushed me because I would have probably stop running. I have seen this happen so many times. Think about a time when you have attended a retreat. you come back on a spiritual high and you come home with 1001 things that you need to do. You have these expectations on what it is like to be Holy and before long you are burnt out! Sometimes its OK to walk, to wait on Jesus remember its not a race it is a marathon.
Running a short race puts a all or nothing mentality. It is go big and go fast or go home! This is dangerous mentality if you are running a long race. Building endurance and keeping a steady pace is crucial to finishing a marathon and I will talk about that tomorrow! Part two to follow!!!
Running to win,
Moni
Race- The act of running, contest of speed, A raid or strong current of water flowing through a narrow channel
Marathon- Long distance race, an endurance contest
Today I was doing some research on training for a half marathon and I realized that I am training wrong. You see training for a 5k and training for a marathon is totally different. I have been running like it is a race and after about the fourth mile I start to burn out and my legs start to feel weak!
The way to train for a long run or marathon is to start off slow, maintain a steady pace and occasionally walking if needed. As I ran today differently, I began to see the parallel to the race of faith or our walk with Jesus. Sometimes we forget that we are in a marathon and we run like we are in a race.
As I mentioned above it is suggested in your first marathon that you take little walk breaks, this is help to recover and give you that short rest that you need to continue running. This was surprising to me because I had put the pressure not to walk at all and that is a problem. Sometimes Jesus wants us to slow down or walk if you will, but we have these expectations of what we should or need to do and we run ahead of Him.
I remember my first 5k when the gun went off the adrenaline kicked in and I was gone. I was not maintaining my usual pace and I was hurting by the time I got to mile 2. Thank God I was running with a friend that pushed me because I would have probably stop running. I have seen this happen so many times. Think about a time when you have attended a retreat. you come back on a spiritual high and you come home with 1001 things that you need to do. You have these expectations on what it is like to be Holy and before long you are burnt out! Sometimes its OK to walk, to wait on Jesus remember its not a race it is a marathon.
Running a short race puts a all or nothing mentality. It is go big and go fast or go home! This is dangerous mentality if you are running a long race. Building endurance and keeping a steady pace is crucial to finishing a marathon and I will talk about that tomorrow! Part two to follow!!!
Running to win,
Moni
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Running With Purpose
I remember doing my first 5k, had to been about ten at least years ago. I remember leaving that day and thinking I would NEVER do that again. I did it for breast cancer to support my mom and that is IT!!!!
So on the treadmill last night I thought of 100 reasons why it was a mistake to sign up for my first half marathon in October! Let me reiterate that I am NOT a runner.. Running is not easy for me but for some reason I have a burning desire to run. For me it is more spiritual than physical or mental, I can tell you that much.
There is only one good reason that God is calling me to run. And here it is.. The only way I could understand what it is like to train like an athlete is to make me an athlete. Faith, Food and Fitness is bathed out of 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training.
They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. "
When this scripture was given to me I had no idea 3 years ago that I would have a desire to run. There is no way I could understand the depth of this scripture unless I put to the test to living it out.
The fact of the matter is that although I am training for a 13 1/2 mile marathon and scared, the spiritual race is also being disciplined in the process. In obedience to what the Lord has called me to do I will be documenting my journey. I know I haven't been able to fully commit to my blog as I should but that is one thing that I am working on.
I want to share with you all so much because I want you to know if I can do it you can to with Gods help! Yesterday was day 1 and let me tell you it felt good to run with purpose. How about you.. what is driving you? Are you running with purpose? Or are you just shadow boxing? what race has God called you to do? Are you ready? Will you run to win? I hope you will...
Please come along side me, I can use your support! I also want to support you to..!!!!
Running to win!
Moni
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)