The Chronicles - What Will this Wacky Family do next?

I am sitting in my office at 3:07 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Less than five hours ago I was headed down the home stretch to the finish line of the Carlsbad Half Marathon.

Tada!

I did it. I ran 13 miles along the ocean with 8 to 10 thousand of my closest friends. Runners are a strange lot. I still can't figure out why I think this is fun....

Okay, I can barely move and my knee is throbbing but I DID IT. What amazes me further, I ran the entire way except to suck down water at each and every water station. Although, around mile ten I was tempted to call an ambulance. I hated mile eleven and thought I would surely die through mile twelve.

Have mercy!

My muscles are sore and I am a bit whinny so my family is constantly reminding me today that THIS WAS MY IDEA. My daughter looked at me over lunch and said, "Mom, let's remember this, shall we, the next time you talk about signing up again. However, I still feel.....good. I feel like I fought the good fight and prevailed.

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

I learned a few things while on this journey.

• Train early and train often. I had to prepare for this event starting in September. We trained early 5:30 a.m. Three short runs 3-5 miles, three mornings a week, followed by a long run on Saturday 7-10 miles.

• Share the pain and the victories with a friend. These are my friends, Karrie, Jolene, and Tanya. I love these women. They put up with me and my slow running for months. My BFF, Pam was injured and knocked out last month but she took time to telephone me shortly after I finished with an enthusiastic - Congratulations! Beth my other BFF checked on me yesterday and after I arrive home. God has given me such great friends. Most of these gals attend church with me.

• Don't give up when you're tempted, hurting, and just plain beat up. I began praying around mile nine. By mile eleven, I was whispering between breaths, Philippians 4:13. By mile 12 my prayers consisted of, "Help me Jesus, Help me Jesus, Help me Jesus." He listened.

• Finally, there are many others out there who need encouragement, and a little help and there were those who helped me. The water station people ROCKED. Local bands were stationed on the course playing music and half the town of Carlsbad came out to cheer and clap. They ROCKED. The other runners ROCKED.

What an experience!

Hebrew 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I wonder if you, like me, see these lessons dovetail into our faith walk?

Commitment to God often requires we rise early and often to read and pray.  

Share the journey.....the pain and the joys.

Don't give up when you are temped, hurting and plain beat up. There are others who encourage and help us and we must do the same.

If you ask me today, "Would you run another marathon?" I would say, "Not a chance. Period. The end."

But one certain thing all my years of living with Jesus has taught me, never say never. Love all of you. Hope your week ROCKS and God surrounds you early and often as you share your life with those in your world who are on this race with you!

God bless, Lynn

Also, Marriage Monday arrives next week, February 2nd. And it will be hosted HERE. I can't wait. So sharpen that pen, I mean fingers and start typing. The Surprise of Christian Marriage is our topic and I know everyone is surprised by marriage. I want to hear your story. Thanks e-Mom.