I set a goal a few years ago to run a marathon before I turned 40.  I have been running for the past 10 years, but to reach this kind of distance scared me.  I then realized that January 2, 2010 was coming soon, so I knew it was time to try.  In August Troy Stuart and I started training for our first marathon.  Every week we would get up at 5:00am to hit the streets of North Stafford (Hampton Oaks, Austin Ridge, Autumn Ridge, Whitson Ridge, Settler’s Landing, Park Ridge, Augustine) and we ran between 20-30 miles per week.  Nearing the end, we got up to 22 miles in one run.  Then the injuries began to hit.  Troy started having knee pain, and then I battled left arch pain (planter faciaitis).  We took about three weeks off from running, but tried to stay active with cardio on the bike.  I was being treated by Dr. Scott Stahaleck for my foot injury.  I bought a brand new pair of shoes, and some inserts for my arches. 

Then on November 14, Troy and I ran the Richmond Marathon.  (Note to self, never break in a new pair of shoes on raceday).  Nine miles into the race, my legs and hips began to cramp.  I had never had this happen before.  I knew there was 17 more miles to go.  Was it running change from the shoes, or was it taking off three weeks?  Regardless, the battle began in my head to quit the race….

Somehow I didn’t quit the race.  Some 4 hours and 29 minutes later my marathon ended.  It was the most painful and the most humbling experience of my life. 

Here are a few of thoughts and lessons I learned while pounding the pavement of Richmond:

1. Running for yourself (ego) will only take you so far.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

2. The race will become painful and you will want to quit.

“let us run the race with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

3.  Sometimes moving forward means walking and crawling, when you cannot run.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

4. No one should ever run alone.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

5. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition, or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

6. Don’t underestimate the power of a cheerleader.

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25

7. If you stop and sit, you will never get back up.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but God determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

8.  Knowing there are people you know waiting at the finish line provide motivation.

“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off the sin the so easily entangles us…” Hebrews 12:1

9. Focus your eyes on someone else is better.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2

10. Checking an item off your ‘bucket list’ might make kicking the bucket more appealing.

“Where O’death is your victory?  Where, O’death is your sting.” 1 Corinthians 15:55

I don’t know if I would have finished without having Troy prodding me on, and knowing there were people at the finish line waiting for me (Thank you Erin Sim, Allison Barbour, and Keisha Pittman).  I have already been asked if I will run a marathon again.  My answer is …

I better not type that today~