Running the Race.......

I have enjoyed a love/hate relationship with the sport of running for several years.

It began when I was a high school sophomore and the guy I was dating ran on the cross country team. When he mentioned he was attracted to one of the girls on the team I should have run in the opposite direction but being the insecure girl I was, I joined the team too.

Running is not natural for me and I remember praying before each race, "God, please just don't let me finish last!" At my first race I finished second to last by a few seconds. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor!!!

By my junior year I was no longer dating Mr. Cross Country so I happily avoided the sport for the next 20 years.

Having 4 babies in 5 years gave me a new reason to lace up my running shoes....baby fat! I joined a gym and discovered running on a treadmill. Now this was my kind of running; at my own pace, in an air conditioned climate and a T.V. to watch. I even ran most of the way through my 5th pregnancy (which might explain that daughters athletic ability).

Not long after baby #6 came along I bought my own treadmill for the basement (and of course an oscillating fan and TV to go with it). I logged several hundred miles on that treadmill as I ran off and on over the next several years.

One day the thought crept into my mind that I should try running in a race.

"WHAT? I don't think so...."
Oh come on, you can do it. Challenge yourself, you were made for more than running on this treadmill.....

"But what if I finish last? Or worse yet, what if I can't finish at all? Besides I can't run outside, what if it is cold or hot or raining? And I won't have the TV to watch."
Kelley, leave your comfort zone and prove to yourself you can!

Then one morning in the church bulletin I noticed a local 5K being sponsored by a friend of ours. It looked like a fun family event so I talked several of my kids and a girlfriend into running with me. I nearly chickened out but after several sleepless nights I realized God was pushing me to run this 5K. He literally kept it on my mind constantly and wouldn't let me sleep.

The morning of the race was beautiful (not too cold, hot or rainy). I had told my 9 yr. old daughter not to worry if she couldn't keep up, "just walk with the crowd." As it turned out she not only kept up, she beat me! She won a first place trophy for the 10U age group! I didn't do too shabby either, finishing 17th in the 40-45 age group.

So with that race behind me I was ready to take on more! I recruited my mom, mother-in-law and a couple of daughters to run in the local Mother's Day 5k. I started reading Runner's World and invested in some spiffy (and expensive) new running shoes, as well as some cute new running clothes....(Have I mentioned I suffer from an obsessive personality?).

A short time later I began to feel a pain in my arch but I stubbornly ran through it until I could no longer put weight on my foot. Mornings were especially painful and I eventually diagnosed myself as having Plantar Faciatiis. Although stretching and icing are recommended the only real cure is rest.

"What? No more running?"

Conclusion:

The same God who wanted to stretch and grow me through being obedient to His leading would not allow me to create an idol for myself. I put away my expensive running shoes and found other ways to workout (swimming, cycling, weigh lifting...) but I was forced to stop running for several months.

Eventually my foot healed and I was able to run again but this time I have been careful to keep it in perspective......

In honor of Mother's Day I am posting some of the pictures from last year's Mothers Day run in which my Mom, Mother-in-Law and 4 of my daughters participated.

*(A great way to spend Mom's Day together)

*(My mother-in-law and Mom)

*(Teenagers!!)

*(First time participants received a tiara!)

*(Cece finished the 3.10 miles in 23 minutes which netted her a $50.00 gift certificate!).

This year the girls have a soccer tournament all weekend so we are unable to participate in the Mother's Day 5K. The weather is FREEZING and windy. The last thing I would want to do today is run outside......God is Good!!

I hope whatever you do today you enjoy a blessed Mother's Day!!