Becoming a Runner

I started training the other day, got on the treadmill ran/walked a few miles and the next day the whole family woke up sick. Haven't ran since :( A set back yes, but praise God there is always tomorrow, if the Lord wills. And so I start my training all over tomorrow. Have to get ready for our 5k challenge I threw out there for May.

Have you prayed yet? Have you considered? Have you signed up yet? Well a week ago we got our first teammate. Susie joined "runners for grace" and will receive a gift card for being the first. So for motivation, I have asked a friend to guest blog for me about running. Perhaps Belinda's story can inspire you to join me on May 6th!

Becoming a Runner

The beginning is always difficult. In my mind, I have this image of a fit young girl in high school; who loves to run cross country. If this sixteen year old girl was asked to run three miles, she would say, “An easy three. No prob.” Reality is far different and we have to go through obstacles. Sometimes it is easier to over indulge, procrastinate, be lazy, make excuses, and live the daily grind which can lead to an unhealthy life.

With 40 quickly approaching, I prayed that I would change. I did not want to spend the rest of my life being unhealthy and all of the consequences that stem from it. My prayers were soon answered in the form of an invitation. A friend would insist that I participate in a local running club with him. I was intimidated at first because I felt I was in no shape to keep up with a group of runners. I cast that fear aside and showed up early Saturday morning because I knew, this was the instrument God was going to use to change my life. The running club’s plan was to run six miles that day since they were starting their training for the L.A. Marathon. At that moment, I had not set a goal for myself and did only what I thought, I was capable of handling, but I knew, I was taking my first steps.

Through the support of my friend and his tip for my steps in the beginning process of my lifestyle of running, he mentioned, “Don’t worry, start by running two minutes and walking one minute.” That sounded easy enough for me to do. Nope! I was wrong. I was in worse shape than I had thought. I was only able to run for one minute then walked to complete the two miles. I was disappointed that I couldn’t run, yet I felt a sense of hope that this was the beginning of my running journey. Although, there was no one cheering for me at the end of the two mile finish line – I took my first steps to becoming a runner. Was it hard? Yes, it was, but I did not quit.

Belinda's first marathon was the LA Marathon last year and she has not quit. Since then she has participated not only in other marathons but, half marathons, triathlon, and a mud run. She inspires me completely!

So with all that being said, I have a give away. WOOT WOOT! I won a free copy of "Run to Win" from Christine Caine. The book I am reading and LOVE! So here is all you have to do to enter to win. Leave a comment, letting me know how you are going to "run to win" in any areas of faith, food or fitness. I will randomly select a winner.

"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! "1 Corin 9:24

Running to win,
Moni