Sunday, June 30, 2013

So how many PRINCEsses are here, anyway? AND Somewhere over the MOUNTAIN!

"Keep your kicks laced, get your grips straight before you quit, you kick, this is the big race"
~~LeCrae, Run

When I last left all of you in the blogosphere, I mentioned the title.  Just what, pray tell, is a PRINCEss?

I'll give you all some hints:

This--

Okay, at least he is dressed like a prince.

This dude had a skirt on:
But I think he gets the prize:

Dude, did you seriously lose a bet?

Anyway, backing up to the dude in the skirt at mile 10. . .just a picture up.  Do you see how we are at the bottom and there are people on the bridge up there.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, between miles 10 and 12, there is an up ramp.  It's a killer.  At first I did great, but I ended up fizzling out:

I promise you, when I saw this sign, I started praying hard. . .

I was sure I'd walk it, but when I started up, the easiest thing to do was simply run it.

It was still wall to wall people.

But when I got to the top, I could see the people coming into Epcot to start their park touring for the day


Is that a golf ball I see!  


Why, yes it is, meaning I'm in the home stretch!!!!


About this time, I want to hug every single one of the volunteers passing out water.

We round about the corner past Spaceship Earth through what is typically only a castmember alley, and I see these people:

You all know what that means. . .




And you all want to know the truth?

I cried harder when I went through this than I did when I went through the castle.

"The Holy Spirit got the breath you breathe,
So if the cramps kick in it's all the breath you need,
Wait on the Lord to renew you man,
Don't stop, keep going, you can do this, man"
~~LeCrae, Run

It's a little thing, running a race.  You get up in the early morning hours, fight the fog and and caffeine withdrawals.  You constantly look for the next mile marker, the next piece of entertainment, the finish line.  But the fact of the matter is, you are never finished.  You start the morning wondering what on earth you were thinking only at the end to want to do it all over again.  You run for the prize that is yours to obtain.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives a prize?  So run that you may obtain it."  ~~1 Corinthians 9:24

In my case, is the prize this?


No.

Your winning prize can be the first place medal, or it can be the feeling that you and only you have when you finish.  That was part of my prize, but not all of it.

I've said this many, many times.  Most of these big races are on Sunday morning.  Starting with the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, I determined what my races were going to accomplish.  While I feel great after them and love how my body is doing things I never thought possible, in the end, these races are in fact 3 hour times alone with God.  I pray every step I take.  I encourage others along the path.  I listen to worship music.  And above all, even with all of the entertainment, I look at the creation around me that God made.  The rising sun over the horizon, the birds flying, and the trees in the breeze and I realize something:  He made this earth so that we can enjoy it, while at the same time worshiping Him.  Every step I take in a long run or a race is one that He determined would happen in His divine providence.

And I'm thankful for every one.

Leaving the race, I was ready for an ice bath.  Nicole carried buckets of ice back to the room and I settled in.  I had a paper to write, because I had not used time wisely throughout the week in order to not have to do this on a Sunday afternoon.

I finished it, and then headed over to the Magic Kingdom, where I indulged in my post race treat of choice:


A bacon cheeseburger.

Man, I could go for one of these right now.

And you know what?!?  I scarfed that bad boy right down!

I have lots of memories of that day, but I remember most going through the castle, taking that massive hill, and the finish line.  Unlike the Isrealites who walked for forty years, my feet DID hurt.  But I am thankful that I had the feet to put one in front of the other in order to hurt.

"Run this is your race, boy, run, don't stop"  ~~LeCrae, Run

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

1 comment:

  1. LOVE this! Yep its so much fun! Nice recap on so many levels.

    ReplyDelete