Saturday, August 10, 2013

What Does That Make Me?

"You make everything glorious and I am Yours,
What does that make me?"
~~David Crowder Band, Everything Glorious

One thing can be said about women that is almost always true. . .we tend to compare ourselves with others way too much.  And no matter what, we never seem to be good enough.  The song sung by David Crowder Band tells us differently. . .if God made the creation glorious, then that means we are also glorious.

It's time for all of us to stop looking at ourselves as persons who didn't look good enough, lose enough weight this week, and (ouch, this steps on my toes) run fast enough.  We are God's creation and we are therefore glorious in His eyes. . .

"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."  ~~Genesis 1:31

My prayer this week is that we all see the beauty of the creation that we are in God's eyes, and that we who trust in Him use that beauty to show Him to the world which needs Jesus greatly.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them."  ~~Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Aches and Pains. . .Listen to Your Body!

I'm stubborn.

There, I admitted it.

My name is Amanda, and stubborn-ness is my problem.  I try not to be, but I still find myself there.

And what is the problem with that?

"I will break down your stubborn pride."  ~~Leviticus 26:19

Oh.  Wow.  Stubborn and proud.  Way to step on my toes.

The theme of today's post involves the aches and pains involved with training for long runs.  See, for two weeks, I did something I know not to do.  I've done it before, with the same disastrous results.

I did leg extensions with 100+ pounds of weight, leg presses with 90+ pounds of weight, and 10 sets of squats.  There's really not a problem with that unless you plan to run seven miles soon after.  Me, in my stubborn pridefulness, thought that it would be okay.

It wasn't.

And it hasn't ever been before.  I thought I could be she-man, and lift way too heavy with my legs and my knees not pay the price.  I was prideful and therefore lost it all there.

Yes, I still ran 7 miles.  Yes, I was really slow.  I did not listen to my training.  I knew better than the books I've read, podcasts I've listened to, even Jeff Galloway.  I knew in my mind better what the temple God gave me had already shown me.  I was prideful.  I was going to do be the big gal on the block.

Guess what?  I'm almost 40 years old.  I am still overweight.  Old knees aren't meant to withstand all of that work.  And it does not pay to forget all of that.

Last night, I ate some humble pie, took it slowly, and forgot all of that extra too much.

That two miles was much better.

"Before his downfall, a man's heart is proud; but humility comes before honor."  ~~Proverbs 18:12

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Feelin' HOT, HOT, HOT!!! What's your commitment?

Temperatures go up.  And your speed goes down.  It's discouraging.  I know.  I dealt with it this morning.  It can be discouraging going from a race where your average was less than a 12 minute mile to a training run with a 15 minute mile.  Very discouraging, indeed.  Some days, it can be enough to make you pack up your running shoes, Gu Chomps, and Sparkle skirts and put them in the attic.

Here's the truth of the matter:  according to Jeff Galloway, you should add 30 seconds to your time for every 5 degrees above 60 degrees.  The day I ran that 12 minute mile, it was around 60 degrees.  Today's temperature was 85 degrees.  So I could expect a 2.5 minute per mile increase--around 14.5 minutes per mile.  I started faster than I should have this morning, so I can understand the 15 minute mile.  That doesn't keep it from being discouraging when you see the average speed going down on the Nike+ Sport Watch.  It doesn't keep the irritating voice in your head from stealing your thunder.

I've long talked about my playlists that I listen to when running.  At about 3 miles today, I hit a wall.  The song that the iPhone shuffled to was Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns:

          "And I will Praise You in this storm
           And I will lift my hands
           For You are Who You are,
           No matter where I am
           And every tear I've cried
           You hold in Your hand
           You never left my side. . ."

Wow.  I've also seen on Pinterest two quotes that I relate well to:

"Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you"

"I rather say 'I did it' than 'I gave up'"

There is no reason to turn your back on a commitment.  I liken my running to signing a contract for a job or taking a vow.  I've committed to that job, whether I like it all the time or not.  Seventeen years ago, I took a vow.  There are times that he makes me mad, frustrated, tired.  In other words, sometimes the mood in which I was in on August 3, 1996 has completely left me.  But I made a commitment.  Here's the thing--is running as serious as a commitment to run a marathon?

I think every commitment, if worth taking, is as important as the others.

Regardless of how hot, tired, sore, cold I feel, I intend to keep my commitment.

Even if it means that I go way too slow.
 

A welcome sight from yesterday's run:  My finish line.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  ~~Joshua 1:9