I kinda feel like this post is overdue.. there's not a run that goes by where I don't pick up a little spiritual nugget and I'm so grateful for that. I love that God has planned for natural experiences to give us little spiritual boosts and lessons. Here's the biggest the one I've learned about during this training process: rest.
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| An early 2013 run.. we are lucky to have these gentle rolling hills though our city.. I took a 'rest' to snap these pics ;) |
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| Running toes. (aka: blisters) |
a pretty house and tree along one of my runs
new running pants. they have changed my life.
a runkeeper running log (ps not a great run at all)
new shoes #beauties
I should define what I mean by rest. I'm not talking about rest days (although those are very important), but I mean rest during the run or race.
The first 8km I ever ran, I ran it straight.. no rests, no stopping, nothing. By the end of my run, my lungs felt they were going to burst, my feet and toes were asleep, my shin splits (which I struggle with every run already) were almost unbearable and there were people walking faster than I was (pathetically) running. Ugh.
But I talked to man that works in the same office as me who I knew was an avid runner and he talked to me about intervals. He has ran lots of marathons, 8 K's, 10K's, etc so I knew that he was giving solid advice. He suggested I try running "10 and 1's".. 10 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking.. he said nothing has helped him more mentally than this and I knew I wanted to add it to my own training program.
Life. Changing.
Having one minute little rest breaks several times during my runs has done wonders for my mental clarity and I am now up to "15 and 1's". And this leads my to the spiritual lesson..
Little rests are so important during our own journey.. and while convention (or 'rest days') is important (and amazing), we can't be at convention all the time. Rest from the busyness of our day in fellowship meetings, rest in God's care during prayer before bed, a pause in our day to sing a little hymn, rest from this sometimes cold world in a good spiritual conversation with a friend are all little 'rests' we can give ourselves along the way as we daily run this race.
I just love this little thought and I know I need to value better the little moments that give us rest from a weary day, an experience we're going through or just being so 'plugged in' all the time (guilty. totally guilty of that one).
I love that God planned for us to have 'soul-rest' every step of the way.
After my one minute rest-walks, I feel refreshed to keep going. I've had time to catch my breath, refocus and look forward to going again.
And that's just like running in this race.
There is strength for the next step when we stop to rest a moment along the way and I'm so thankful that.
Hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday.. only one more day of work until the Easter long weekend! Wahoo!
Hope its a good one for you, wherever you are!
xo ~ Jessica
