It’s Monday and time for a blog post. There’s only one problem. I’m sick and exhausted and my brain is less than functional this morning. Here goes anyway.
Yesterday we did it. All 8 of us completed the Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Louis 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles). Our plan all along was to walk this race, but for a few of us, when we realized that we might be able to finish in under 3 hours, we ran a couple of miles to try to get there, and almost made it. My time was 3:00:56. That is my 2nd best time out of seven 1/2 marathon races, and this is the most I have ever walked. Needless to say I feel pretty good about that. But what I feel even better about is that 6 of our 8 Bacon Lovers (anonymous) members completed their FIRST EVER 1/2 marathon yesterday, felt good about it, and some of them are looking to do it again, possibly even running! What a huge difference from 5 months ago!
Today, our muscles are recovering, our vehicles are getting stickers on them that say 13.1, and we are basking in feelings of accomplishment.
It just goes to show:
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Yes, we decided to do this race. Yes, we trained. And trained. And trained. Yes, we read about things we should and shouldn’t do on race day. But, we also prayed and asked God for his strength and protection throughout the training and the race. And we give Him the glory for bringing us through victoriously. Because as one of the signs we saw yesterday said, “FINISHING = WINNING.”
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
After all of this, I am almost convinced I can train for and complete a full marathon (26.2) this spring. I am also convinced I will need a nap this afternoon.