I remember a run I had last summer. It was late afternoon and I had dropped the girls off at my mom's house in order to get in a workout. Woodward is just a short walk away from my parent's house so I jogged over the overpass and hit the road that winds its way around the park. I think it was July or August; needless to say, it was scorchingly hot. Probably around 100 or thereabouts. And although I had been training for a few months I felt the effects of the heat and the hills almost immediately. There were few other people out on such a hot day and I remember having to mentally push myself to go on...because, without a cell phone, I really had no other choice.
The hills were the worst. I don't remember exactly where I was...probably the dirt track that winds its way around the outer perimeter...but I do remember the hills. "Just one more hill," I'd think to myself. "And you're almost there." But no. After that hill, there was another. And another. It seemed endless, the slow pace up the hill, the slightly easier trek down. I was so thirsty and wanted nothing more than to get back to my mom's house for some ice water. And I didn't want to slow down and walk...doing so would only get me back that much later...so I kept up my pace and kept going.
That's how it is with training for a half marathon, or marathon...there are so many hills to climb but somehow, someway, you push through. You pray, you sing, you encourage other MASHers on Facebook, you buy a water bottle belt and some good shoes and you keep running. The heat, the freezing cold Saturday mornings, the aching shins, the sore feet. The injuries...although I was blessed to be injury free through my training, others didn't escape the shin splints, the pulled tendon, or the other several injuries runners can be prone to. But everyone I knew that suffered an injury kept going. They took a break, then hit the trail again. They overcame.
Then there is the other side of the hill-the moment you reach the top and begin to descend. These are the moments that made it almost easy to continue training. Watching the sun rise through pink tinged clouds, looking over the bluff on the Eaton Trail on my very first five mile run, keeping pace with Heather while dodging semi-trucks, running in fog so thick droplets of dew clung to my arms. Praying, singing, thanking God for the ability to run. Thinking of the people we were helping, because it really came down to that...packing supplies at the Clovis warehouse and knowing what you were doing was making a difference.
And one of the best parts of joining MASH-meeting the people who would ultimately change my life in a myriad of small ways. Jeff and Mike, the ever so patient MASH trainers. Mike was the one who said I should run with a helium balloon tied to my hat so they could track me easier if and when I got lost on a long run. Kelly, another amazing MASH trainer who does 26 mile TRAINING runs and who might get a spot on next season's "Wipeout" (am I right Kelly? Any updates on that?) Roland, a mentor who led the Thursday evening trainings at Rio Vista...I cheered silently when I saw his time in the Two Cities race report...his name was REALLY high on the list. Danielle, Heather, and of course Kim and Pennie, fellow PCers. Pennie sings in the choir and I found out Kim is good friends with my sister in law. Would I have ever met these beautiful people if I hadn't done this?
Who would I be today if I hadn't had the courage to join MASH? I am now stronger, physically...and spiritually, because God has been with me on every run. And when it comes down to it, He is the reason I run. He is the reason I am able to run. Running is a gift-an activity not necessary to our modern lives. It's almost a luxury. The ability to get on my shoes and go out for a run is something I thank God for. For "all good things come from above" and I can't enumerate all of the good that has come from this. I am a runner, and will continue to run as long as I am able. And I will continue to thank Him for the runs he has given me and the moments I have experienced on this journey.
So pray about joining MASH...not just supporting the ministry, but by signing up and running...because who knows where God will lead you? Who knows what moments are going to change your life?
