Well, I'm now a bit less than three weeks from running my first marathon. The training has been tougher than I anticipated averaging 50-miles per week but it has been really interesting to learn how and where I can push my body. I was able to get three long runs in (20-21 miles) and each one was progressively better. I learned how to pace myself, manage nutrition, and balance the hydration during these 3x20mile runs. I was disappointed with my times on these runs, each run was slightly better than the last but I didn't break a 9 min mile. There is part of me that says that's ok, long runs are supposed to be 30-45 seconds per mile than the goal race pace, I know from experience my race times are faster than training times, and I know the course ascent will not be close to the 4,000 ft I experience running on the Island - BUT adding another 5-6 miles... I think this might all be pre-race psychology/jitters and I do have confidence that I will be able to finish and will be able to finish near my initial time goal of 4:00 or less. Well, there is the technical side.
On the personal side, this training has been incredible! I've learned a lot about myself and have done all these runs without music - I spend my time while running praying and conversing with God. These have been times where God has further revealed Himself to me and provided wisdom and encouragement to me in the various life circumstances I'm experiencing. He has specifically been speaking to me through the passage in I Peter 5:6-7 which says "Humble yourself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." This verse coupled with Micah 6:8 which says "He has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." What great promises! If I humble myself - God's mighty hand is upon me (this is a really good thing!) and that God wants to take on my anxiety, He does not want me to carry them, He wants to take them... I just have to let them go (cast them). So, over the last 2-3 weeks this is what God is showing me, my part is to humble myself in the sight of the Lord. As I look back over my life I can attest that the promises in these passages have been fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled, God is so faithful - amen.
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